Renting Without Canadian Credit History in Ontario: What Landlords Can and Can't Ask
Short answer: yes, you can rent in Ontario without Canadian credit history. A landlord may ask for credit references, rental history and a credit check, but under Ontario human rights rules a lack of credit history must not be treated as bad credit, rent-to-income cut-offs are not allowed, and a guarantor can be required only if every tenant is asked for one.
Updated October 31, 2026.
What the regulation allows
O. Reg. 290/98 under the Human Rights Code sets out what landlords may use when choosing tenants:
- credit references and rental history, and permission to run a credit check;
- income information, but only if the landlord also asks for the items above, and only considered together with them;
- income on its own only when the applicant gives no other information.
What the Ontario Human Rights Commission says
The Ontario Human Rights Commission rental housing policy explains that newcomers and young people may have little or no credit or rental history, and that this is not the same as a bad credit rating. Income information should be limited to confirming you can cover the rent. Rent-to-income ratios such as a 30% cut-off are illegal for private rentals.
A 2002 Ontario tribunal decision (Ahmed v. Shelter Canadian Properties) found that rejecting newcomers because they had no Canadian credit, employment or rental history was discriminatory.
What to offer instead of a credit score
- A job letter or offer showing salary and start date.
- Recent bank statements showing savings.
- References from landlords in your previous country.
- Personal or work references.
- A guarantor, if the landlord asks all applicants for one.
Deposits still have limits
Even with no credit, a landlord cannot ask for more than last month's rent as a rent deposit, plus a refundable key deposit. Damage deposits are not allowed (Ontario: renting in Ontario, your rights).
Sources
- O. Reg. 290/98
- Ontario Human Rights Commission rental housing policy
- Ontario: renting in Ontario, your rights
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures were checked against the sources linked above in October 2026 and can change; confirm your own situation with a lawyer, accountant, lender or the Landlord and Tenant Board before you sign anything.
Farshad Fazaeli, Salesperson, International Realty Firm, Inc., Brokerage, 647-667-5555 · Richmond Hill, ON
FAQ
Is no credit history the same as bad credit when renting in Ontario?
No. The Ontario Human Rights Commission says landlords cannot equate the absence of a credit rating with a bad credit rating and should not reject applications based on a lack of credit history.
What can an Ontario landlord ask a prospective tenant?
Under O. Reg. 290/98, credit references, rental history, permission for a credit check, and income information, as long as income is considered together with the other information.
Can a landlord use a 30% rent-to-income rule?
The Ontario Human Rights Commission says rent-to-income ratios such as a 30% cut-off are illegal, except for subsidized units where rent is geared to income.
Can a landlord ask newcomers for a guarantor?
Only if the landlord has the same requirement for all tenants, not just people such as recent immigrants.
Richmond Hill & GTA · International Realty Firm, Inc., Brokerage
647-667-5555 · info@melk.ca