Guarantor on a Rental Agreement

Landlord and Tenant Issues
1

Hi,

Is it legal for a landlord to ask a guarantor to submit the following documents while renting an apartment

  1. Copy of SIN card
  2. 2 recent pay stubs
  3. Recent bank statement
  4. Letter of employment
  5. Copies of 2 valid photo ids

Can a landlord refuse to rent an apt if the guarantor is willing to provide only a letter of employment. I am trying to help 2 students who are doing their Master’s degree. What are the options available to them.

Thanks

2

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

This is a very interesting question.

Your listing shows that the landlord is requesting a copy of your SIN.

Regarding tenants themselves, many people think that a SIN is necessary for the process of renting, however, Equifax, a Canadian Credit Bureau, this is not true. A landlord can check your credit history with your full name,current address and birth date (if you are willing to give them that information).

This means that it is optional to give out your SIN for credit purposes.

You can find some additional information in our Settlement.Org What kind of questions can a landlord ask? article.

You can also find some additional information regarding who can request your SIN on the Privacy Commissioner of Canada website.

In terms of the letter of employment and SIN request for a guarantor, you may want to contact the nearest Community Legal Clinic for some assistance.

You may also want to try and contact the Landlord and Tenant Board for some additional information.

You can find some contact information here:

Toll free: 1-888-332-3234
Toronto area: 416-645-8080
TTY: Call the Bell Relay Service at 1-800-268-9242

According to the Landlord and Tenant Board website, the service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Wait times are highest on Mondays and the first business day of the month.

It is important to know that customer service officers can provide you with information about the Residential Tenancies Act but they cannot provide legal advice. That is why it may be helpful to contact the nearest Community Legal Clinic.

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