Hi. I was looking to rent a place in Toronto and the lady that I spoke to was asking me questions such as “Where were you born?” and “Where did you come from?”.
On asking her why she was asking that. She said that it was a requirement before renting.
Is it legal?
I would appreciate some support regarding this as this is my first time renting.
Also what actions can I take if I have her voice recorded?
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.
We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this situation.
You can find some detailed information in our Settlement.Org What are my rights as a tenant? article.
Here is an excerpt,
You can also find some additional information on the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) website in the Discrimination and rental housing section.
You may also want to contact the CERA Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation for some additional information and assistance.
You can contact them here:
In Toronto: 416-944-0087
Outside Toronto: 1-800-263-1139
I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.
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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org