How to Screen Canadian Tenants — Legally, Under PIPEDA

Tenant screening in Canada has three legal pillars: PIPEDA (consent + data minimization), provincial human-rights codes (no protected-ground questions), and the RTA (you cannot refuse a tenant for arbitrary reasons). Get the order right and the rest is straightforward.

Step 1 — Written consent before ANY data pull

Every application must include a PIPEDA-compliant consent box authorizing you to pull credit and contact references. Without signed consent, the credit bureau won't return your call.

Step 2 — Pull credit through a landlord-tier provider

Equifax (via Equifax landlord portal or a partner like Certn/Naborly), TransUnion (via SmartMove or partner). DIY credit pulls are not available in Canada — you must use an approved channel.

Step 3 — Verify income

Last 3 paystubs + a copy of the most recent CRA Notice of Assessment. For self-employed: 2 years of T1 General + bank statements. The 'gross income ≥ 3× rent' rule is the Canadian baseline.

Step 4 — Call the previous landlord (the real one)

Confirm via property registry that the person you're calling owns the address listed. Tenants sometimes list a friend as 'landlord' — verify the address via municipal property records.

Questions you can NOT legally ask

Race, religion, country of origin

Family status (children, marital status)

Sexual orientation, gender identity

Disability or use of service animals

Receipt of social assistance (ON, BC, MB all protect)

Age (above 16 — minor cohabitants OK to ask about)