Tenant Screening Red Flags Every Ontario Landlord Should Know
The best eviction is the one you never have to file. Careful screening before you sign a lease is the most effective way to avoid arrears, damage and LTB applications. These are the warning signs experienced landlords watch for.
Key points
- A qualified applicant usually has no reason to avoid giving documents, references or a credit check.
- A common guideline is rent of no more than 35 to 40 percent of gross monthly income.
- Always call previous landlords and ask direct questions.
- Screen on the same criteria for everyone, and never on grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Thorough screening before signing a lease is the most effective way to avoid rent arrears, property damage and Landlord and Tenant Board applications. Here are the red flags experienced landlords and paralegals know to watch for.
1. Reluctance to provide documentation
A qualified tenant usually has no reason to hold back documents. An applicant who delays a credit check, won’t give references, offers only partial proof of income, or asks you to skip your usual process deserves a closer look, not a lighter one.
2. Income that doesn’t support the rent
A common guideline is that rent should be no more than 35 to 40 percent of the tenant’s gross monthly income. Ask for pay stubs, an employment letter or bank statements. Self-employed applicants can provide tax returns and contracts.
3. A pattern of short tenancies
A history of repeated short tenancies of a year or less is worth asking about. Multiple recent moves can point to disputes, evictions or difficulty keeping stable housing.
Already have a tenant problem? We act only for Ontario landlords.
Book a free 20-minute call →4. Weak references, or none at all
- Would you rent to this person again?
- Did they pay rent on time, every month?
- Did they give proper notice when they left?
- Were there any complaints or damage?
A reference who is vague or won’t answer is still telling you something.
5. Pressure to move in quickly
Urgency isn’t always a problem. But extreme pressure to sign immediately, skip steps or move in before you finish checking deserves scrutiny. Sometimes it signals something the applicant wants to get ahead of, like a pending eviction.
Screening fairly
- Use the same application, checks and criteria for every applicant.
- Rely on rental history, references, credit and income information together.
- Never refuse based on grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code, such as family status or receipt of public assistance.
- Keep notes of why you chose or declined each applicant.
- Use the Ontario Standard Lease once you choose a tenant.
Frequently asked questions
What should Ontario landlords check when screening a tenant?
Rental history and landlord references, employment and income, and a credit check, applied the same way to every applicant.
What income should a tenant have for the rent?
A common guideline is rent of no more than 35 to 40 percent of gross monthly income, considered along with credit, references and rental history.
Can I ask a tenant for a credit check?
Yes, with their consent. Credit information can be used along with other information such as references and rental history.
What can’t I screen on?
You can’t refuse an applicant based on grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code, such as race, family status, disability or receipt of public assistance.
What if a reference won’t answer my questions?
Treat it as a caution. Ask for another previous landlord reference and weigh it with everything else.
About Robert Di Lisi
Robert is a paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and co-founder of Stonegate Legal Services, a landlord-only firm. He leads client intake and speaks at landlord seminars across the GTA. Like the rest of the team, he is a landlord himself.
Want to avoid tenant problems before they start?
We act only for landlords. Flat-fee pricing, quoted up front, and every hearing handled online.
Book your free 20-minute call →or call 416-937-2766We represent landlords across Ontario, including Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton, Ottawa, Vaughan, Markham, Oakville and London.
