Addressed to:

The Government of Ontario

Primary Decision Maker:

Paul Calandra, MPP

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)

Additional Recipients:

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs)

Contact Information:

Paul Calandra, MPP

Email: paul.calandra@pc.ola.org

Mailing Address: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 777 Bay Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2J3, Canada

Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario

Email: premier@ontario.ca

Mailing Address: Office of the Premier, Main Legislative Building, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M7A 1A1, Canada

Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs)

Ontario Legislative Assembly contact list:

https://www.ola.org/en/members/current/contact-information

Paul Vickers, MPP – Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound

Email: paul.vickers@pc.ola.org

Mailing Address: Suite 105B, 345 8th Street East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K5, Canada

 

Petition Statement:

In Ontario, tenants have been unjustly subjected to the widespread requirement that they consent to landlord-initiated credit checks in order to be considered for rental housing. This practice has become a significant and growing barrier to accessing housing—particularly affordable housing—and disproportionately harms people who are already financially vulnerable.

Most landlords now expect prospective tenants to have a credit score of 600 or higher, despite the fact that many individuals rent specifically because their income or credit history does not allow them to pursue home ownership. Renting is meant to be the most accessible and feasible housing option, yet current tenant-screening practices have made it increasingly unattainable for average Ontarians.

Why Credit Checks Are an Unreliable Measure:

Credit reports are a poor and misleading tool for assessing a tenant’s ability or willingness to pay rent:

Credit reports generally do not reflect rent payment history unless a tenant pays to subscribe to optional rent-reporting services, creating an additional financial barrier.

Credit reports prioritize consumer debt, such as credit cards, cell phone bills, and loans—not housing stability.

Negative credit information can remain on a credit report for six years or more, meaning past financial hardship continues to follow people long after their circumstances have changed.

During periods of financial strain, non-housing debts are often delayed first, while rent is typically prioritized to maintain shelter.

As a result, credit checks frequently fail to represent a tenant’s current financial health or reliability.

Lack of Legal and Practical Justification:

There is no clear legal or logical justification for allowing landlords to rely on credit reports. Landlords are not lending money; they are collecting monthly payment in exchange for housing—a basic human necessity.

More relevant and reliable alternatives already exist, including:

• References from previous landlords
• Proof of consistent past rental payments
• Proof of income
• Copies of recent, up-to-date utility bills (if necessary)

Legal and Human Rights Concerns:

Under current Ontario law, landlords are permitted to request credit checks with tenant consent under:

Ontario Human Rights Code, Regulation 290/98

Interpretive policies of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)

Tenant screening practices permitted under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006

While technically lawful, these practices create systemic discrimination and disproportionately impact:

• Low-income individuals
• Survivors of abuse or family breakdown
• People recovering from illness or addiction
• Young adults and newcomers with limited credit history
• Individuals rebuilding after financial hardship

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has acknowledged that credit checks can have disproportionate adverse effects on protected groups and that the absence of credit history should not be treated as a negative factor.

Housing is recognized internationally—and increasingly domestically—as a human right, not a privilege reserved for those with perfect financial histories.

What This Petition Requests:

We call on the Government of Ontario to amend provincial housing and human rights legislation by:

Prohibiting landlords from requiring or using credit checks as a condition of rental housing

Amending Regulation 290/98 under the Ontario Human Rights Code to remove credit history as a permissible screening factor

Updating the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 to restrict tenant screening to non-credit-based criteria directly related to rental payment history and housing stability

Establishing clear, standardized alternatives to credit checks that are fair, accessible, and relevant

Reducing systemic barriers that contribute to housing insecurity and homelessness

Conclusion:

Requiring credit checks for housing does not protect landlords—it excludes people. It punishes past hardship, ignores present stability, and directly contributes to rising housing insecurity and homelessness across Ontario.

No one should be denied safe and affordable housing because of past financial struggles unrelated to their ability to pay rent today.

We urge the Government of Ontario to act.

This petition is respectfully submitted to the Government of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Premier of Ontario, and Members of Provincial Parliament for consideration and legislative action.