How to Rent in Canada With No Credit History
Yes, you can rent without Canadian credit: a credit check is the landlord's choice, and in Ontario the Human Rights Commission says a lack of credit history should not be viewed negatively. Show you can pay instead, with bank statements, a job offer, references from landlords or employers abroad, or a guarantor. Deposit limits vary by province.
Why do landlords ask for credit and a job letter?
A landlord is trying to predict whether you will pay rent in full and on time for the length of your lease. In Canada they usually answer that question with two tools: a credit check, which shows how you have handled past debts and bills, and proof of income such as a job letter, recent pay stubs, or an employment contract.
When you arrive in Canada, your credit history from your home country does not come with you: Canadian credit bureaus only collect information about credit activity in Canada. As a newcomer you typically have neither a Canadian credit file nor a local job letter yet.
What may a landlord weigh when screening you?
A credit check is the landlord's choice. Where human rights law speaks to tenant screening, it limits how a landlord may assess you. Ontario is the clearest example.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission, which explains the rule set by Ontario Regulation 290/98 under the Human Rights Code, says rental history, credit references and credit checks may be requested, but a lack of rental or credit history should not be viewed negatively. Landlords can ask for income information, but must consider it together with any available rental history, credit references and credit checks. Income can be considered on its own only when no other information is made available.
The OHRC also says that, unless you are applying for subsidized housing, it is illegal for landlords to apply a rent-to-income ratio such as a 30% cut-off rule.
A landlord cannot refuse you on a protected ground: in Ontario these include place of origin, citizenship (including refugee status), ethnic background and receipt of public assistance, and other provinces have their own human rights codes. If you believe you were refused for a discriminatory reason, your provincial human rights body is the place to ask.
What can you offer a landlord instead?
Landlords ask for credit and employment proof mainly to judge one thing: whether you can reliably pay the rent.
- Bank statements or a bank letter showing stable savings.
- A job offer or an employment letter, where you have one. Even a signed offer with a start date helps.
- References from previous landlords abroad, confirming you paid on time and left the unit in good condition, and references from past employers.
- A guarantor or co-signer, often someone already established in Canada with their own credit and income, who agrees in writing to cover the rent if you cannot. In Ontario, the Human Rights Commission says a landlord may ask for a guarantor only if it has the same requirement for all tenants.
- Prepaid rent or a larger deposit, which some landlords ask for. What a landlord is legally allowed to collect up front varies by province.
Building even a thin Canadian credit profile early helps the next time you move. Credit bureaus create your credit report when you first borrow money or apply for credit. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada names a secured credit card as an option for a newcomer with no credit history.
How much can a landlord collect up front?
The rules are set by each province and territory, and they differ sharply.
| Province | What a landlord may collect |
|---|---|
| Ontario | A rent deposit equal to at most one month's rent (or one week for a weekly tenancy). It can be used only for the rent for the last month before you move out, not for damage, and the landlord must pay you interest on it every year. |
| British Columbia | A security deposit of up to half of one month's rent and, if there is a pet, a pet damage deposit of no more than half of the first month's rent. |
| Alberta | A security deposit of at most one month's rent. Within 10 days after you give up possession, the landlord must return the full deposit plus interest or, if there are deductions, return the balance with a statement of account. |
| Quebec | None. The Civil Code (art. 1904) forbids a landlord to exact any deposit or rent in advance for more than the first payment period, so last month's rent cannot be required up front. |
Deposit limits, what a deposit can be used for, interest, and return timelines are all province-specific. Before you hand over money, ask the landlord exactly what the payment is for, check it against your province's published rules, and get it in writing.
The rule
In Ontario, a landlord may collect a rent deposit equal to at most one month's rent (or one week for a weekly tenancy).
Where do you turn with a landlord problem or a suspected scam?
Every province and territory has residential tenancy legislation that sets out your rights as a tenant. It covers limits on deposits, rules for rent increases, the landlord's duty to keep the unit in good repair, your right to privacy (a landlord generally must give proper notice before entering), and the process a landlord must follow to end a tenancy or evict.
If a dispute arises, your provincial tenancy board or tribunal (for example, the Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario or the Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia) is where tenants file complaints.
Newcomers are a frequent target for rental scams. Be very cautious if:
- a unit is priced far below similar listings
- the supposed landlord says they are out of the country and cannot show it in person
- you are pushed to pay a deposit or first and last month's rent before viewing the unit or signing a lease
- you are asked to pay by wire transfer, e-transfer to a stranger, gift cards or cryptocurrency, which scammers favour because the money is hard to recover
View the unit in person (or have a trusted person view it for you) before paying anything, and get a signed written lease and a receipt for every payment. If you suspect a scam, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Settlement agencies give information and referrals for free to eligible newcomers.
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What do people ask?
Can I rent in Canada with no Canadian credit history?
Yes. A credit check is the landlord's choice, and many landlords accept newcomers who show they can pay another way: bank statements showing savings, a job offer or employment letter, references from landlords or employers abroad, or a guarantor or co-signer. In Ontario, the Human Rights Commission says a lack of rental or credit history should not be viewed negatively. The Banking & Credit for Newcomers guide explains how to start a Canadian credit file.
What can I offer a landlord instead of a job letter?
Proof that you can pay the rent. Bank statements or a bank letter showing stable savings, proof of the funds you brought to Canada, a signed job offer if you have one, and references from past landlords or employers all help. A guarantor or co-signer who is established in Canada is one of the strongest options. The Finding Housing in Canada guide covers the rest of the rental search.
What is the difference between a guarantor and a co-signer?
A co-signer is usually named on the lease and shares the rent obligation with you from day one. A guarantor is usually not a tenant, and promises in writing to pay the rent if you default. Both reassure a landlord, and their legal exposure differs, so anyone helping you should understand exactly what they sign. The Banking & Credit for Newcomers guide explains how credit works in Canada.
Can a landlord ask me to prepay several months of rent?
It depends on the province. Some landlords ask newcomers for prepaid rent or a larger deposit, and the rules differ: Quebec, for example, forbids taking rent in advance for more than the first payment period, or any deposit (Civil Code art. 1904). Check your province’s rules first, ask what the payment covers, and get a signed lease and a written receipt. The Finding Housing in Canada guide compares deposit rules.
How much deposit can a landlord charge?
It depends on the province. Ontario allows a rent deposit of at most one month’s rent, used only for your last month, not for damage. British Columbia allows a security deposit of up to half a month’s rent and a pet damage deposit of up to half of the first month’s rent. Alberta caps a security deposit at one month’s rent, and Quebec allows none. Ontario’s Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act, in the sources below, explains the Ontario rule.
Is a credit check legally required to rent in Canada?
A credit check is the landlord's choice. Where human rights law speaks to tenant screening, it limits how a landlord may assess you: in Ontario, the Human Rights Commission says landlords may ask for credit checks, but a lack of rental or credit history should not be viewed negatively, and income must be considered together with credit checks, references and rental history, not alone when other information is available. A landlord also cannot refuse you on a protected ground such as place of origin or citizenship. The Finding Housing in Canada guide covers your rights.
How do I avoid rental scams as a newcomer?
Watch for listings priced far below the market, landlords who say they are abroad and cannot show the unit, and pressure to pay before a viewing or a signed lease. Pay only by traceable methods, and only to a landlord or property manager you have met. View the unit in person, sign a written lease and keep every receipt. The Finding Housing in Canada guide lists more red flags.
Where do I go if I have a problem with my landlord?
Your provincial tenancy board or tribunal, such as the Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario or the Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia. These bodies handle disputes over deposits, repairs, rent increases and evictions. Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board also answers questions by phone at 1-888-332-3234. The Free Settlement Services guide shows how to find local newcomer help.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.