can a landlord ask for photo id in ontario

Landlords should not collect more information than they need for the stated purpose, and should not keep it for longer than necessary. a Job letter or an Employment Verification Letter is aletter that shows the employees name, job position, tenure, and income. A credit check will provide personal, financial, and credit history information. What do landlords ask for when renting Ontario? The landlord may ask for a copy of that. In these cases, you are under no obligation to provide your SIN. Your current employment situation. Yes, landlords can refuse to rent to people in Ontario as long as they're following the Ontario Human Rights Code and Residential Tenancies Act, which afford renters some protections against discrimination based on age, race, family status et cetera. Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for. I've never been asked for ID when renting a place. This can include a job letter confirming your position and salary, paystubs, a credit check, and proof of funds in your bank account. IDs would include DoB, mother's name, father's name etc. Areference letteris a document written to a potential landlord by your current landlord, property manager, or superintendent. The time of entry between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. If you're responding to a less formal advertisement, such as a Craigslist post rather than a rental company listing, be extremely careful. Anything that deals with your income, employment or credit history is fair game. There may also be individual Human Rights Tribunals based on which province you are located in. The landlord may request information such as: Your name. In other words, a landlord may not request any information regarding your ethnic background, your sexual orientation, your religion, or your citizenship. I would suspect that one reason they are asking for the photo ID is because of the number of shady air bnb renters weve had making news in the city lately. For a landlord, taking you on as a tenant is a gamble. 3 weeks past and I WAS still busy in and outside of Toronto, now back visiting Barrie and he sent an email saying if you don't send the things before September, I can't rent to you, contradicting what he said 3 weeks ago. In the clamber of finding a new residence, youll want to be sure your potential new landlord isnt asking questions beyond the scope of your ability to finance and care for the property. This is why we have created a list of necessary documents that every California landlord needs to keep in an easy to find file.10 Most Important California Landlord Documents to Keep On Hand. Landlords can ask for income information, credit checks, credit references and rental history. Lets look at the standard rental application process in Canada and go over some things that your landlord can and cannot legally ask you. Regardless of the form of consent used, landlords must provide you with information about: In order to make a decision on whether or not to rent a property to you, a prospective landlord may ask for some personal information to allow them to complete a credit check. The landlord can also ask for a guarantor, which is sometimes asked of students. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, tips for landlords on common privacy issues in the rental housing sector, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have provincial private sector laws, contact the provincial privacy oversight authority, Privacy guidance for landlords and tenants, Privacy and Landlord-Tenant Matters Frequently Asked Questions, The lease and protection of personal information- Principles and guidelines to observe, capturing your image on a security camera, landlords do not have the right to disclose information such as a poor payment history, right to access your own personal information, 10 Privacy Tips for the Rental Housing Sector, Third-party landlord organization collected, used and disclosed tenants personal information without their consent, SIN not required when signing apartment lease, Landlord collected tenants personal information as part of investigation into breach of rental agreement, Property management company agrees to scrap "bad tenant list", When using video surveillance, security needs must respect privacy requirements, contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Can my landlord ask me for a copy of drivers license Ontario? Can a landlord refuse a showing in Toronto? One of the ways we get rewarded is via ads and affiliates. I dont see the big deal.. many high rise apartment buildings do the same. Landlords require a lot of sensitive information as part of the rental process, but do you know what theyre allowed to ask you?Welcome to our FAQ series, were liv.rent and were your all-in-one platform that makes renting safe, secure, and easy. if you have pets. Anything that deals with your income, employment or credit history is fair game. The landlord must identify the purpose prior to, or at the time of, collection, and also obtain your consent. While people may appreciate the security that comes with video surveillance, they dont want to feel watched in their own homes. What Kind of Questions Can a Landlord Ask? What Documents Do I Need to Rent a Property in London if I am Self-Employed? eviction, lease agreements, repairs & maintenance), subscribe to get the latest news. If you are self-employed, thats great. Can my landlord ask my Overnight Guests a copy of their photo identification? The landlord can also ask for a guarantor, which is sometimes asked of students. You need to fill the rental application with the tenants information, such as tenants names, last places of residence. However, do send them blurry pictures of the tenants also, possibly with a watermark, an irreverent gesture (like bunny ears or peace signs such that they won't fit the passport photo guidelines https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html). Electrical safety. Are you looking to rent/lease a place in Toronto or a city in Ontario? The rent is normal for the area. Worth noting: you cant ask someone if they smoke, but you can still include in the lease agreement that the property being rented is non-smoking. They are not allowed to do so per the Ontario Human Rights Code. Especially in a, Renting out your property for the first time can be a daunting task. Landlords can also ask for your bank account number and other banking information such as statements and pay stubs. (i.e., that you aren't committing identify theft.) Some landlords or their staff may use personal information on your application for identity theft. Within this code, tenants or potential tenants may not be discriminated against based on their receipt of public assistance. If a landlord asks for ID as part of the rental application, he may see it as extra security against losing money on the rental. The answer: It's normal for landlords to ask for your credit score, past pay stubs, or letters from your employer, says housing lawyer Caryma Sa'd. Anything that deals with your income,. Part 2: What do you need when applying for a rental? For example, if a landlord should ask for a bank statement, they must disclose what they wish to use that information for. Credit bureaus collect, use and disclose personal information through their consumer credit reports. Get the latest financial information delivered right to your inbox. ReloRealEstateGroup.com - Your turn-key relocation resource! With that being said, section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act states that a landlord cannot prohibit the presence of pets within a dwelling. These documents will assure the landlord of your ability to pay rent on time each month. Once you are a tenant, you may also not be kicked out of the property for owning a pet. I should be able to enjoy Barrie as he earlier assured me I can without problem about dates. What documents do I need to provide for referencing check? According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission, you cant ask: If the person has ever been part of a dispute that went to the Landlord and Tenant Board. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. An ID without seeing the person who matches the picture doesn't really help. Its reasonable to expect landlords to ask potential tenants for certain types of personal information like proof of income, references or identification. As mentioned only first and last months rent. Yes, but you should only use an applicant's photo ID to verify his or her identity and/or to check on criminal history, rental history, or credit history. This could be a common rental scam. >> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports, Sarah Anderson is a Creative Content Writer at liv.rent who shares the latest updates and news with the safe and trusted community of landlords and tenants at liv.rent. You can ask questions about why certain documents are being requested, and, if necessary, suggest alternatives which could achieve the same goal. When looking for an apartment in Ontario, youll often find that landlords request a hefty amount of information from you. Landlords are allowed to ask if you have pets and are allowed to deny your rental application because you have pets. Required fields are marked *. What a Landlord cannot ask for: Landlords are able to ask a variety of questions that relate to your tenancy. Is asking for photocopies of all my ID a normal procedure? They need to provide individuals with access to the personal information that they hold about them and allow them to challenge its accuracy. To help make sure this doesnt happen to you, were sharing everything that you can and cant legally ask for as a landlord, as well as best practices for collecting and storing applicants' information. Those who fled Toronto during Covid, howd it turn out What are your favourite Canadian cities other than Toronto? They are also governed by provincial and federal privacy laws. In Ontario, rents can be raised up to the maximum allowable increase either 12 months after the last rent increase or the start date of the tenancy. You need to show at least a piece valid government-issued photo ID to the landlord or the real estate agent, such asDriverss License,State issued photo ID,Passport. Many landlords will ask you to complete an application form before they will rent an apartment or house to you. Airbnb vs. renting: which is more profitable for landlords? No the landlord is not legally required to provide you copy of their ID. "It is illegal for a landlord to demand or to collect a rent deposit of more than one month, or if it is less, then one rental period". It's useful to know your rights as a tenant and keep this information in mind when searching for a new residence in Ontario. No. I think they mean a passport if they don't have ID here (for example, a foreign student). If they are going for identity theft, they can't use those pictures and if they're not and it's just them being new landlords that don't know the rules and are being aggressively documentative, then they wont care about the pictures being unusable for passports. Since the driver's license is a valid photo identification, it can familiarize the personnel with the building's occupants. financial obligations, personal references, and the make and model of your car(s). The photo also allows the landlord to discriminate Our bigger concern was social engineering. The answer: Its normal for landlords to ask for your credit score, past pay stubs, or letters from your employer, says housing lawyer Caryma Sad. It's is needed to run credit and background checks. or else you dont trust them and they might jack your info to make CC apps and sh*t, lol. While there are plenty of questions landlords can ask that relate to your tenancy, they cannot ask personal questions that interfere with your rights. So there you have it - a clear answer to the question of whether a landlord can ask for your driver's license (they can) along with helpful tips on how to navigate the request when you don't have one and a . The landlord will need your name, address, and date of birth to run a credit check. Gas safety. He said if I am too busy in August traveling and stuff and can't come in 3 weeks, I can wait and give all those things like copies when I move in september 1st. They've asked for a picture too, but that doesn't help much. He lives in Durham NC with his awesome wife and two wonderful dogs. [Updated August 2022] Must-Have Checklists For First-Time Landlords. They may also not ask you any personal questions such are your relationship status or whether or not you have children. Allowed. The landlord gets the documents. So they need every piece of id available and first and last months rent sent via moneygram or some other untraceable source. Mac Mini 2023 - M2 - $669 education discount. Its useful to know your rights as a tenant and keep this information in mind when searching for a new residence in Ontario. So, its up to the tenant to agree to that condition. British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec have provincial private sector laws that apply to landlords in those provinces. Your email address will not be published. , Proof of Income (Bank Statement or Salary Slips). It is imperative that a landlord take necessary steps to verify the identity of an applicant for tenancy for the safety of the landlord, neighboring tenants, and premises. SIN number (optional to provide this, it helps them to run credit checks). Lots of people renting out condos posing as a tenant then listing them on air bnb, resulting in property damage and violations of the condo laws. When you want to rent an apartment or house, you usually need to fill out an application or give some information to the landlord. Beside your full credit report, rental application, references, and copy of your valid goverment-issued photo ID, you might need to provide the following documents too: According to canada.ca explenation Your notice of assessment (NOA) isan evaluation of your tax return that the Canada Revenue Agency sends you every year after you file your tax return.. He frequently writes about credit cards, banking, student loans, insurance, travel rewards and more. What is the cheapest and safest country to retire? This website contains ads and affiliate links and we may receive compensation when you click any of these links. Is that the way it is supposed to be? Seeing that photocopying all the ID for him is correct, what I am really against now is his change of words. But if you're a first-time renter, then the application process, Liv Strategies Inc. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) | Vancouver, BC | Apartments for Rent. Can I require that? Never hand out personal information to someone that you do not trust. In most states, landlords can include a question about whether the applicant has previously been convicted of a crime. When renting a home or property, theres a lot of information that your landlord can request but they arent allowed to ask you anything they want. While this is not recommended, there is no law preventing private-sector organizations, including landlords, from asking for your SIN for other purposes such as identification (though they cannot require it). A provision in a tenancy agreement prohibiting the presence of animals in or about the residential complex is void. This means that any tenancy agreement provided to you that prohibits animals in your living space, is void. Your rental history. You should never release your SIN to the landlord. The landlord-tenant relationship can involve the collection, use and disclosure of significant amounts of personal information. Plus, the tenant screening process of checking references and running credit checks would likely uncover lies about rental and financial histories. If the landlord insists, you could suggest that they contact the OPC. To date, there are no legal documents or stipulations that suggest otherwise. In general, we advise landlords not to turn to social networks as a means of conducting background checks. Display posts from previous: All postsLast dayLast 7 daysLast 2 weeksLast monthLast 3 months6 MonthsLast year, Sort by AuthorPost time Youre entitled to ask why the landlord wants the information and what will be done with it. The problem is that under Ontarios Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord cannot request more than first and last months rent before a tenant moves into the property. There are different agencies that you may apply for your credit reports, such as Equifax and Transunion. Landlords should get consent for obtaining and providing reference and/or background checks. Should you send bank statements to landlord? Normal. Rental Tip: Documenting condition to avoid disputes. Yes, landlords will call a tenants references (previous landlords) to verify rental history as part of their tenant screening process. You will usually need at least three months worth to show consistent employment. The most basic tenancy agreement for an AST must include: Theres no set credit score necessary to rent an apartment or house; the criteria for approval will vary depending on the property, location, landlord and other factors. Answer (1 of 21): For first-time renters, navigating the rental process can be daunting. Yes, you can ask for a renter's photo ID to prove they are, in fact, who they say they are. Here we go again with stupid landlord stuff for me. ID isnt necessarily strange, but they shouldnt be specifically asking for a passport. If renters resist the idea, be sure to explain that it's their belongings that are being protected! They are not, however, allowed to deny you the unit because you have small children. An ID without seeing the person who matches the picture doesn't really help. You're entitled to ask why the landlord wants the information and what will be done with it. Don't have an account? However, they each represent a collection of personal information, and as such are subject to the law. They may ask to see: an employment contract or letter from your employer. Kareena Maya is a freelance writer focused on the personal finance and travel spaces. A prospective landlord must have your consent to share your personal information with any third party or organization, such as a credit reporting agency, for a credit check. No, you cant require to know if someone new moves in with an existing renter. Product News and Recommendations Senior Editor. I would ask for ID as a land lord. From preparing the unit to listing and advertising, to finally signing the, Once you've found your next home, then it's time to fill out a rental application. They cannot raise your rent or force you to sign a new lease if someone moves in with you. Anyone else feel like life here is going nowhere? Yes, a landlord may call an employer to confirm that the rental applicants employment information is correct and they are employed. To meet their obligations under PIPEDA, landlords should post signs and distribute policies that clearly explain, for example, how footage will be used and when it will be accessed. The information provided on this website does not constitute financial or professional advice. AscendingDescending, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited, Copyright20002023RedFlagDeals.com. Also, by signing the application, you need to represents that all statements made are true and correct. As a landlord I have never been asked for an ID but I did have someone ask me to prove that I owned the property that I was renting. That way, theyre always available to you when youre ready to apply for a rental. That doesn't just mean refusing to rent to someone of the "wrong" race, it also includes the landlord applying a different standard when screening tenants. 2 and 3 sound like a scam to steal your identity. It's not written on lease. If youre an employee, there are several documents you can provide to prove your income and employment. Cameras should not capture the inside of apartments. Pro tip: In Canada, you are protected by Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act(PIPEDA) and its important to know a bit about this protection yourself. Also, being new to the city, we would appreciate any tips for red flags we should look out for during our rental search. A rent deposit clearly differs from a . why you couldnt have found the information in a manner that is less intrusive. Chat instantly with verified landlords. For more information regarding the Ontario Human Rights Code, see ohrc.on.ca. There's bad land lords, but there's even worse tenants, which is why both parties feel the need to protect themselves. After all, you may need a reference from them in the future. Yes, for residential units occupied before November 15, 2018, you can raise rent in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act. Opinions expressed on this blog are NOT endorsed by the reviewed brands. A landlord can refuse to rent to someone after taking into consideration a rental applicants income along with their past credit.