| Province | Guides |
|---|---|
| Alberta | |
| British Columbia | |
| Manitoba | |
| Nova Scotia | |
| Ontario | |
| Quebec | |
| Across Canada |
Tenant screening laws by province
The short answer from each of our legal guides, province by province. Every guide links the official sources it relies on and says when we last checked them.
We are not lawyers. Each summary on this page comes from its guide, which links the official sources and gives the date we last checked them. Rules change, so check those sources or ask a lawyer before you act.
Provinces covered
Check one province
Pick a province to see its short answer, common questions and official sources in one place.
Alberta
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Alberta? (2026)
On a first call in Alberta, ask about move-in timing, rental history, references and income, and say why you are asking. Never ask about children, marital status, origin, religion or source of income. A credit report needs express, verifiable consent. Security deposits are capped at one month's rent, and the province's handbook does not bar application fees.
Updated September 23, 2026
Read the guide
British Columbia
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in BC? (2026)
On a first call in British Columbia, ask about the unit, move-in timing, rental history, references and pets, and say why you are asking. Never ask about children, marital status, origin, religion, disability or source of income. Later you may view photo ID and, with consent, run a credit check. You may never charge an application fee.
Updated October 19, 2026
Read the guide
Manitoba
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Manitoba? (2026)
On a first call in Manitoba, ask about move-in timing, rental history, references and ability to pay, and say why. Skip questions on family status, origin, religion or medical needs; source of income is protected. Credit and reference checks need the applicant's consent. Application fees are banned, and security deposits are capped at half the first month's rent.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guide
Nova Scotia
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Nova Scotia? (2026)
On a first call in Nova Scotia, ask about move-in timing, employment and references, and say why. Never turn someone away over source of income, family status or another protected ground. Credit checks need consent, and no one can be forced to give a SIN. Application fees are banned, and deposits are capped at half a month's rent.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guide
Ontario
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Ontario? (2026)
On a first call, stick to the unit, the move-in date, a viewing time and contact details. On the application, O. Reg. 290/98 allows credit references, rental history, consent to a credit check, income information weighed with them, and a guarantor. The OHRC says rent-to-income cutoffs are illegal, and the only deposit allowed is a rent deposit.
Updated September 23, 2026
Read the guide
Quebec
What Can a Landlord Ask a Rental Applicant in Quebec? (2026)
On a first call, ask only about the unit, the move-in date, a visit time and contact details. On the application, the CAI and the TAL allow name, current address, previous landlords' contacts and, with consent, a credit check using name, address and date of birth. The SIN, employer, salary, pay stubs and bank details cannot be required.
Updated September 23, 2026
Read the guideQuebec's July 1 Lease Calendar: When Are Renewal and Rent Increase Notices Due?
For a lease of 12 months or more ending June 30, the landlord's notice of a rent increase goes out between January 1 and March 31. The tenant has one month from receiving it to refuse or say they are leaving, or is deemed to accept. After a refusal, the landlord has one month to apply to the TAL.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guide
Across Canada
What Deposits and Application Fees Can Landlords Charge in Each Province? (2026)
Quebec allows no deposit, only the first month's rent in advance. In Ontario, the only security deposit is a rent deposit of up to one month. Elsewhere the cap runs from half a month's rent (British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia) to one month (Alberta, Saskatchewan). British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan expressly bar application fees.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guideCan You Text Rental Prospects in Canada? What CASL Requires (2026)
Yes. Replying to a renter's inquiry needs no consent, because CASL's regulations exempt replies to requests and inquiries. Other commercial texts need consent, sender identification and a free unsubscribe honoured within 10 business days, and an inquiry gives implied consent for six months. Canadian local numbers need no carrier registration to text Canadian phones.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guideShould an AI Leasing Agent Say It Is an AI in Canada? (2026)
It should. In the federal and Quebec laws we checked, we found no statute that requires it outright, but Canada's privacy commissioners expect a public-facing generative AI tool to make clear it is AI. The Competition Act targets materially misleading representations, and Quebec's Law 25 requires notice of decisions based exclusively on automated processing.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read the guide
Answer every rental inquiry, day and night.
See Nolan pick up a leasing call for your own units in a 20-minute demo.