What Can a Landlord Legally Ask For in Ontario?

When you apply for a rental in Ontario, landlords are allowed to dig into your finances and history — but only so far. Knowing exactly what a landlord can legally ask for, and what crosses the line, protects you from illegal deposits, discrimination and overreach. Here's the clear breakdown every renter should have before signing.

Key takeaways

• Landlords can ask for credit checks, references, proof of income and rental history.
• Ontario allows a rent deposit (applied to your last month) — but no damage or security deposits.
• A key deposit is allowed only up to the actual cost of replacing the key.
• Landlords cannot discriminate based on grounds protected by the Human Rights Code.
• If a landlord demands an illegal deposit, you can challenge it at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

What a landlord CAN ask for

To assess whether you'll be a reliable tenant, an Ontario landlord is allowed to request a reasonable amount of information. None of this is unusual, and refusing all of it can hurt your application.

• A credit check — with your consent.
• References from previous landlords or employers.
• Proof of income such as pay stubs or an employment letter.
• Rental history and identification.
• A guarantor if your application needs extra backing — common for those renting with no credit history.

The Ontario Standard Lease is mandatory

For most residential tenancies, the landlord must use the government's standard lease form. Understand every clause in our guide to the Ontario Standard Lease.

Deposits: what's allowed and what isn't

This is where Ontario law is strict — and where many tenants get taken advantage of. A landlord can collect a rent deposit equal to one rent period, which must be applied to your last month's rent. That's it. Ontario does not permit damage deposits or security deposits, and a key deposit is capped at the actual replacement cost of the key.

Your rent deposit earns interest

The landlord must pay you interest on your last month's rent deposit each year, generally at the same rate as the annual rent increase guideline. It's a small right, but a real one — see your full tenant rights in Ontario.

What a landlord CANNOT do

Some requests are outright illegal. A landlord cannot demand a damage or security deposit, cannot require post-dated cheques or automatic payments as a condition of renting, and cannot ask for cash payments as a condition. Most importantly, a landlord cannot discriminate against you based on grounds protected by Ontario's Human Rights Code — including family status, ethnic origin, age, disability or receipt of public assistance.

A landlord also cannot ask for a deposit just because you have pets, though they can ask whether you have them. For the full picture, see how repairs and maintenance work for tenants.

What to do if a landlord oversteps

If a landlord demands an illegal deposit or discriminates against you, you can decline and, if needed, apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to recover money paid or enforce your rights. Don't pay illegal deposits to secure a unit — it sets a bad precedent and the money should never have been collected.

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