Can a Landlord Give You a Bad Reference in Ontario?

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 10 min read — An Ontario landlord can usually give an honest reference, but privacy, human rights and tenancy laws limit what they say and how.

This guide is for Ontario tenants worried about what a current or past landlord will tell the next one, and for landlords who get calls asking about former tenants. You will get the laws that actually apply to references, what a landlord can and cannot say, the “bad tenant list” problem, and what to do if a reference is false or unfair. It is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice.

Can a landlord give a bad reference in Ontario?

Yes, an honest one, in most cases. Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) does not mention landlord references at all. It neither requires a landlord to give one nor bans an unfavourable one. Section 10 of the RTA does allow landlords choosing new tenants to use rental history and credit references, in the way a regulation under the Human Rights Code permits.

That does not mean anything goes. Three other areas of law shape what a landlord can say and how:

• Privacy law. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) says landlords must follow the federal private-sector privacy law, PIPEDA, when they handle tenants’ personal information in the course of commercial activity, and should get consent for reference checks.
• Human rights law. A reference cannot be used to discriminate on grounds protected by Ontario’s Human Rights Code.
• Tenancy law. While you are still a tenant, threatening a bad reference to pressure you can cross into harassment under the RTA.

And a reference that is false is a different matter from one that is simply unflattering. More on that below.

What is a landlord allowed to say in a reference?

Facts that are accurate and relevant to renting. The OPC, in a 2016 finding about a landlords’ “bad tenant” list, said that landlords collecting information to check a prospective tenant’s ability to pay rent on time, or their suitability, may be appropriate, and that reference checks are a long-standing industry practice tenants commonly know about. The same finding stressed that information used to make decisions about people has to be accurate and up to date.

In practice, a fair reference usually sticks to questions like these:

• How long did the person rent from you, and at what rent?
• Did they pay on time?
• Did they give proper notice when they left?
• Was the unit returned in reasonable condition?
• Would you rent to them again?

Honest answers to those questions, even unflattering ones, are what references are for. Comments about a person’s family, religion, disability, age or whether they receive public assistance are a different story. Landlords on the other side of the call can read my guide to finding and screening tenants legally.

Does a landlord need my consent to give a reference?

Generally, yes. On its landlord and tenant page, the OPC says landlords should get consent both for obtaining and for providing reference and background checks. It also says that informal checks, such as a new landlord calling an old one or looking at your social media, are a collection of personal information that privacy law covers.

Most rental applications include a signed consent that lets the new landlord contact references you list. If you did not list a landlord and did not consent, you can ask how the new landlord got the information.

Source: OPC, Privacy in the landlord and tenant relationship (modified June 18, 2026); PIPEDA findings 2009-017 and 2016-002; Residential Tenancies Act, 2006; Ontario Human Rights Code. General guide only.

Can a landlord put me on a “bad tenant” list?

Not an informal one. The OPC says landlords do not have the right to share information such as poor payment history with an unregulated or ad hoc “bad tenant list”. Regulated channels, such as credit agencies, may be notified in appropriate circumstances.

Two OPC investigations show how this plays out:

• 2009: a landlord organization ran “bad” and “delinquent” tenant lists for paying members. The OPC found that tenants had not consented, and that part of the information had been reachable by anyone on the internet.
• 2016: a property management company kept a list of over 2,000 names for a landlords’ association. The OPC found the list broke the law, recommended it be destroyed, and the company complied.

If a landlord tells you that you are on a list, ask in writing who runs it, what it says about you and where the information came from.

Can a landlord threaten a bad reference if I complain?

That can be a problem for the landlord. Section 23 of the RTA says a landlord shall not harass, obstruct, coerce, threaten or interfere with a tenant. Section 235 makes it an offence for a landlord to knowingly harass a tenant. If a landlord tells a current tenant “drop your repair complaint or I will make sure no one rents to you”, that is the kind of conduct a tenant can raise with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) through a T2 application.

The Human Rights Code adds its own protection. Section 8 gives every person the right to claim and enforce their Code rights without reprisal or threat of reprisal. A bad reference given because you asked for a disability accommodation, for example, could be a reprisal.

Keep a written record of any threat: the date, the exact words, and copies of texts or emails. An adjudicator decides on evidence, and a threat made only in a hallway conversation is hard to prove months later. My guide to filing a complaint against a landlord walks through the T2 and the other routes.

Can a reference be discriminatory?

Yes, and that is not allowed. Section 2 of Ontario’s Human Rights Code gives every person the right to equal treatment in renting without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability or receipt of public assistance.

So a reference that says, in effect, “they had too many kids” or “they were on assistance” brings those grounds into a housing decision. A tenant who believes that happened can contact the Human Rights Legal Support Centre or file with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

One exception matters for small landlords. Section 21 says the Code’s housing protection does not apply where the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the owner or the owner’s family.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission also says that a lack of rental or credit history should not be viewed negatively, which matters for newcomers and first-time renters.

How can I find out what my landlord says about me?

Ask. The OPC says that under PIPEDA you generally have the right to see the personal information a landlord holds about you. Make the request in writing, and be specific. The landlord should respond within 30 calendar days, with a possible extension of up to 30 more days if they explain why within the first 30. You can also challenge information you believe is inaccurate.

If the landlord will not answer, or you think your information was misused, you can file a complaint with the OPC. The OPC says residents of every province except Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec, which have their own laws for this, file with the federal office. That includes Ontario.

Can a landlord refuse to give a reference?

Yes. No Ontario law requires a landlord to provide one. A refusal is often less harmful than a negative reference, but it still leaves a gap. Ways to fill it:

• bank statements or e-transfer records showing rent paid on time;
• a letter from your employer confirming your job and income;
• a credit report you pull yourself;
• a guarantor, which the Human Rights Commission says landlords may ask for only if they ask all applicants;
• a reference from an earlier landlord.

My guide to what a landlord can ask on a rental application explains which documents you must give and which you can decline.

What to do next

1. Before you apply, ask your current or past landlord what they would say, and in what form.
2. Gather proof of on-time rent, your notice letter and move-out photos.
3. If you suspect a false or discriminatory reference, request your information from the landlord in writing.
4. For threats during a tenancy, contact the LTB about a T2; for discrimination, contact the Human Rights Legal Support Centre.
5. For a privacy breach or a “bad tenant list”, file a complaint with the OPC.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Privacy in the landlord and tenant relationship
• OPC PIPEDA Findings #2016-002: Property management company agrees to scrap “bad tenant list”
• OPC PIPEDA Case Summary #2009-017: Third-party landlord organization and tenant lists
• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (e-Laws)
• Ontario Human Rights Code (e-Laws)
• Ontario Human Rights Commission: Policy on human rights and rental housing
• 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?