Renting your first apartment in Canada with no credit history: your rights and the landlord's
What a landlord can and cannot ask you for, the deposit allowed in each province, where to complain, and how to spot a fake listing before you send a single dollar.
The short answer: you can rent an apartment without a Canadian credit history, but you need to make up for the empty file with what the law allows. In Ontario, a landlord may ask for credit references, your rental history, permission to run a credit check and information about your income, and may require a guarantor. Upfront payments, however, are capped by law, and the cap varies by province: one month's rent applied to the last month in Ontario, no deposit at all in Quebec, half a month in British Columbia and one month in Alberta. And any landlord who asks you to transfer money before you have seen the unit and without a lease should be treated as a scammer until proven otherwise.
What landlords will ask for, and how to make up for a missing credit history
In Ontario, a regulation (O. Reg. 290/98) sets out what a landlord may ask of a prospective tenant:
- Credit references and rental history, or either one.
- Your permission to run a credit check.
- Information about your income, provided the landlord also asks for the information above. If the landlord obtains only your income information, they may base their decision on that alone.
- A guarantor who guarantees the rent will be paid.
In practice, when your credit file is empty, put together an application that answers the landlord's real question: "Will this person pay?" These documents strengthen your application without disclosing more than necessary:
- A letter from your employer stating your position and start date, or other proof of income such as a bank statement showing regular deposits.
- A reference from a previous landlord, even one outside Canada, translated if needed, with a real way to contact them.
- A guarantor, if you have a relative or friend living in Canada with a credit history who is willing to co-sign.
- Your Canadian credit report, even if it is short. Start building it in your first week, as explained in the credit score guide, and open your bank account early using the newcomer banking guide.
In Quebec, the rules are tighter on landlords. The TAL publishes guidance stating that a landlord may ask for your full name and current address, and may ask for the name of your previous landlord or building caretaker and how to reach them. A landlord may run a credit check with your consent, and needs only your name, address and date of birth to do so. A landlord cannot require you to provide:
- Identity document numbers, such as your driver's licence or health insurance card.
- Employment details: salary, employer's name or years of service.
- Banking information, such as a void cheque or your bank details.
- Photos or copies of identity documents.
Since a credit check in Quebec needs only your name, address and date of birth, there is no reason to give your Social Insurance Number to a landlord who asks for it for that purpose. Read about protecting that number in the SIN guide.
Deposits and upfront payments: four provinces compared
| Province | Maximum upfront payment | Lease or other key point | Dispute body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | One month's rent (or one week's if rent is weekly), used only for the last month, with annual interest paid by the landlord. No damage or pet deposits allowed | The Standard Lease is mandatory for most private units | Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) |
| Quebec | No deposit of any kind, not even for keys. Only the first month's rent may be requested in advance | The TAL lease form has been mandatory since 1 September 1996 | Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) |
| British Columbia | Security deposit of no more than half a month's rent, plus the same again for a pet if pets are allowed. The two deposits together cannot exceed one full month's rent | No fees may be charged for a rental application or for processing it | Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) |
| Alberta | Security deposit of no more than one month's rent at the start of the tenancy, placed in a trust account within two banking days | The mandatory interest rate on deposits for 2026 is zero | Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) |
Ontario: the Standard Lease and the last month's deposit
Most private landlords in Ontario, whether individuals or property management companies, must use the Standard Lease for every new tenancy. Exceptions include care homes, most social housing, housing co-operatives and certain other cases. If you have not received a copy:
- Ask the landlord for it in writing. They must give it to you within 21 days.
- If they do not, you may withhold one month's rent only.
- If 30 days pass after you withhold rent and you still have not received the lease, you may keep the amount you withheld.
Note: you cannot withhold more than one month, and you remain obliged to pay rent for the full term of the lease.
The rent deposit is what people call the "last month's" deposit. It cannot exceed one month's rent and can be used only to pay rent for your last month, not to repair damage. The landlord must pay you interest on it every year at a rate equal to the rent increase guideline. A key deposit is also permitted, and the law sets how much it can be and how it must be handled.
Three other rules protect you in Ontario:
- A landlord cannot require post-dated cheques or automatic withdrawals, although you may agree to them.
- You are entitled to a free receipt for every payment if you ask for one.
- A lease cannot include a damage or pet deposit, or clauses that make you responsible for repairs that are the landlord's responsibility.
Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta: what is different
Quebec: a landlord cannot ask for any deposit, including for keys or furniture. They may ask for the rent for the first payment period only, meaning one month at most, even if you sign the lease months before it begins. They cannot require post-dated cheques. The TAL lease form is mandatory for every residential tenancy, whether a room, an apartment or a house. If the agreement is verbal, the landlord must give you a mandatory written notice within ten days. We found nothing on the TAL's official pages requiring leases to be registered with it; what is mandatory is using its form. Keep proof of payment for three years, as the tribunal recommends.
British Columbia: a landlord cannot charge a fee for accepting, reviewing or processing a rental application. If a key is the only means of access, they cannot charge for it. If a deposit exceeds the limit and you have notified the landlord in writing, you may deduct the overpayment from the next month's rent. When the tenancy ends, give the landlord your new address in writing; they must return the deposit with interest within 15 days if there is no issue. They can keep it only with your written consent or an order from the RTB.
Alberta: the security deposit cannot exceed one month's rent at the start of the tenancy, and it cannot be raised if the rent goes up. You are entitled to a receipt showing the amount, the date and both parties. The mandatory interest rate on security deposits for 2026 is zero, according to the Government of Alberta.
How to spot a fake listing
Newcomers are a favourite target for rental scammers: they search from far away, they are in a hurry and they do not know local prices. The RCMP and the Competition Bureau list these warning signs:
- Rent lower than similar units in the area.
- A request for a deposit before any lease or written agreement exists.
- A request to send money to someone outside Canada.
- A "landlord" who will not meet you in person.
- A landlord who asks for no credit check and no references. Yes, being too easy-going is a red flag.
- The landlord's name does not appear on the rental documents.
- Photos showing only the outside of the building, or photos that do not match the unit.
- A message directing you to a website that asks for your personal or financial information.
What to do before you pay:
- Visit the address yourself, or send someone you trust, and attend a viewing with the landlord present.
- Run a reverse image search on the photos, and search the address to see whether the listing appears elsewhere.
- Ask the landlord to show photo ID.
- Pay only after a written lease has been signed by both parties, and use a payment method other than cash.
- If you become a victim, report it to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Where to search, and a checklist before you sign
Search the official websites of property management companies, work with licensed real estate agents, and ask the newcomer settlement organizations in your city. You can find agents in the real estate directory. Whatever the source, the checklist is the same:
- Is the lease the mandatory form in your province (the Standard Lease in Ontario, the TAL form in Quebec)?
- Is the upfront amount within the legal limit?
- What does the rent include: heat, electricity, water, parking? Add the rest to the budget tool before you sign.
- Have you photographed the condition of the unit at move-in?
- Do you know which body to complain to? See also the provinces page.
If a dispute becomes complicated, find an adviser in the lawyers directory or a community legal clinic. In Ontario, Legal Aid Ontario can refer you to a clinic near you at 1-800-668-8258.
What this guide does not do
We do not verify specific listings, we do not mediate between you and a landlord, and we do not guarantee your application will be accepted. Rental rules also exclude some types of housing, such as social housing, co-operatives and care homes. This guide is general information from official sources, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Ontario landlord ask for first and last month's rent?
They may take a rent deposit of no more than one month's rent, applied to the last month, and must pay you interest on it every year. A damage deposit is not allowed.
Can a Quebec landlord ask for a deposit?
No. The TAL states that no deposit is allowed, not even for keys, and a landlord cannot ask for more than the first month's rent in advance.
I have no credit history. Can a landlord turn me down?
In Ontario, a landlord may decide based on references, rental history and a credit check, and may ask for a guarantor. So strengthen your application with proof of income, previous references and a guarantor if possible.
Do tenants pay a rental application fee in British Columbia?
No. A landlord cannot charge a fee for accepting, reviewing or processing a rental application.
Where do I complain if my landlord does not return my deposit?
To the LTB in Ontario, the TAL in Quebec, the RTB in British Columbia and the RTDRS in Alberta. Keep your lease, receipts and photos of the unit's condition.
For your other settlement steps, go back to the newcomer arrival plan.