What Can a Landlord Ask on a Rental Application in Ontario?

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 10 min read — Ontario landlords can ask about income, credit and rental history, with limits. Here is what is allowed, what is not, and where bank statements fit.

This guide is for renters filling out an application in Toronto or anywhere in Ontario, and for small landlords building one. You will get the list of what the law lets a landlord ask, the questions that cross the line, how bank statements and your SIN fit in, and what money can change hands before you sign. It is general information as of November 2026. Confirm your own case with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), a licensed paralegal or a lawyer, and with human rights or privacy bodies where noted.

What can a landlord legally ask on a rental application in Ontario?

Less than many forms ask for. Section 10 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) says landlords may choose tenants using income information, credit checks, credit references, rental history and guarantees, in the way set out by a regulation under the Ontario Human Rights Code. That regulation is O. Reg. 290/98. It allows a landlord to:

• ask for credit references and rental history, and ask for permission to run a credit check;
• ask for income information, but only if they also ask for credit references, rental history or a credit check;
• require a guarantee of the rent from someone else;
• require a rent deposit that follows the RTA’s rules.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) says the regulation permits no other inquiries for choosing tenants. The City of Toronto’s renter page gives a practical list of what a landlord can ask: your income, whether and where you work, how many people will live with you and their names, whether you have pets, whether you smoke, consent for a credit check, references from past landlords, and in some cases a guarantor.

Can a landlord ask for bank statements in Ontario?

The law does not name bank statements. They are a form of income information, so the regulation’s limit applies. A landlord can ask for proof of income only if they also ask for rental history, credit references or a credit check. If, after asking for all of that, income information is the only thing the applicant can provide, the landlord may assess the applicant on income alone.

Two other bodies shape how far that request can go:

• The OHRC says income information should be limited to confirming the person has enough income to cover the rent.
• The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) treats banking information and other financial records as personal information. It says landlords should not collect more than they need for the stated purpose, and if they look at a document like a pay stub to confirm income, they likely do not need to keep a copy.

In practice, I suggest applicants offer the least sensitive proof that still answers the question: a job letter, recent pay stubs, or a statement that shows the income deposits. Landlords should say why they are asking, look rather than copy where they can, and store anything they keep securely.

What questions can a landlord not ask?

Anything tied to a protected ground under the Human Rights Code. The City of Toronto says a landlord is not allowed to ask:

• if you are pregnant, have children, or plan to have children or more children;
• if you are married, single or divorced;
• your religion or ethnic background;
• your sexual orientation;
• if you receive welfare or other public assistance;
• if you have a disability;
• your age, including if you are 16 or 17 and living away from your parents;
• if you are a Canadian citizen.

Pets are different. The City says a landlord can turn down an applicant who plans to bring a pet. But once you are a tenant, a “no pets” clause in the lease is void under section 14 of the RTA. My guide on whether a landlord can say no to pets covers condo rules and the exceptions.

The OHRC notes one limit: the Code’s housing protections do not apply where a tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the owner or the owner’s family.

Can a landlord require a minimum income, like 30 per cent of rent?

Not as a hard cut-off. The OHRC’s policy on rental housing says it is illegal for housing providers to apply a rent-to-income ratio such as a 30 per cent rule. Income alone and income ratios can be used for subsidized units where rent is geared to income.

The OHRC adds two related points. A lack of rental or credit history should not count against someone, which matters for newcomers and students. And a landlord can ask for a guarantor only if the same requirement applies to all tenants, not just to people in a protected group such as recent immigrants or people on social assistance.

Does a landlord need your SIN or ID for a credit check?

A landlord needs your consent to run a credit check. The OPC says that, at a minimum, a credit check needs your name, address and date of birth. Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is not one of them.

The OPC is direct on this. A landlord cannot require your SIN, and you cannot be refused on the grounds that you would not give it, unless they can show it is required by law or no other identifier would work. If a landlord insists, the OPC suggests asking why, offering other ID, and contacting the OPC if needed.

Some landlords also ask for a driver’s licence, passport, employer and expenses. The OPC says these are not needed for a credit check, though they can help confirm identity. You can ask why each item is needed.

Informal checks also count. The OPC says looking at an applicant’s social media or calling a past landlord is a collection of personal information that needs consent, and it advises landlords against using social networks for background checks.

What money can a landlord ask for when you apply?

Very little beyond rent. Here is how the main requests line up with Ontario law:

Source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 105 to 108 and 134; O. Reg. 516/06, s. 17; LTB brochure “Information for New Tenants”. As of November 2026.

What about an application or credit-check fee? Section 134 bars a landlord from collecting a fee, premium, commission or similar amount from a prospective tenant, refundable or not. The regulation’s list of allowed payments does not include an application fee. That is my reading of the two together, and it is how I would advise a client. My guide to rental deposit rules in Ontario goes through each charge.

How should landlords handle applicants’ personal information?

Carefully, because privacy law applies. The OPC’s tips for the rental sector say landlords should:

• ask only for what is needed, and say why it is being collected;
• get consent before checking references or running background checks;
• lock up paper files and password-protect digital ones;
• plan to destroy information once it is no longer needed;
• never post or share tenant details on an unofficial “bad tenant” list.

A clean, consistent process also protects landlords at the Human Rights Tribunal. Ask every applicant the same questions and keep notes of why you chose someone. My guide on how to find and screen tenants legally sets out a full process.

What can you do if a landlord crosses the line?

It depends on what happened:

• Discrimination. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario hears claims of discrimination and harassment under the Code. The Human Rights Legal Support Centre has a questionnaire to help you decide whether to apply.
• SIN or privacy concerns. You can raise them with the landlord and, if needed, contact the OPC.
• Illegal charges. Section 135 lets a tenant ask the LTB to order a landlord to repay money collected in breach of the RTA.

The City of Toronto also lists tenant support organizations that can help you understand your options.

What to do next

1. Applicants: gather a credit report or consent, proof of income, landlord references and ID before you apply.
2. Leave the SIN field blank and offer other ID if asked.
3. Landlords: cut your form down to what O. Reg. 290/98 allows and use it the same way for everyone.
4. Never pay or accept more than one month’s rent deposit, and always give or get a receipt.
5. Confirm your own situation with the LTB, a community legal clinic, a licensed paralegal or the Human Rights Legal Support Centre.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• O. Reg. 290/98: Business practices permissible to landlords in selecting prospective tenants
• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (e-Laws, consolidated from September 21, 2026)
• Ontario Human Rights Commission: Policy on human rights and rental housing
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Privacy in the landlord and tenant relationship
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: 10 privacy tips for the rental housing sector
• City of Toronto: Renter Rights & Landlord Information
• O. Reg. 516/06 under the Residential Tenancies Act
• Tribunals Ontario: Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

Related reading

• Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
• Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
• Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
• Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?