Protected grounds
The Alberta Human Rights Commission lists 15 protected grounds: race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age (18 and over), ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status and sexual orientation. You can't refuse to rent, set different terms or advertise preferences based on any of them.
Writing the ad
- Describe the home, not the tenant you want: size, features, rent, deposit, utilities, parking, pet and smoking rules.
- Avoid phrases like "suits a mature professional", "no kids", "perfect for a couple", "no welfare" or "Canadians only". They point to protected grounds such as family status, age, marital status, source of income and place of origin.
- Age limits are only allowed in limited cases, such as seniors-only housing. Check the AHRC's rental housing guidance before using one.
- "No pets" is allowed, but you must still accommodate a qualified service dog or guide dog.
Screening applicants
- Use the same criteria, questions and steps for everyone, and write them down.
- Rental history and references are usually fine to ask about.
- Don't ask about family plans, religion, ancestry, marital status or disability.
- Be careful with rigid income rules. The AHRC gives rent-to-income ratio screening as an example of something that can be discriminatory.
- Don't turn someone down because their income comes from social assistance, AISH or another benefit. Source of income is a protected ground.
- You have a duty to accommodate tenants' needs related to protected grounds, up to the point of undue hardship.
Personal information
Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act applies to many landlords and property managers. Collect only what you need to choose a tenant, tell applicants why you're collecting it, get consent for credit checks, store it securely and don't keep it longer than you need to. The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has guidance.
General information only, not legal advice. The Residential Tenancies Act and its regulations are the final word; check the official sources above or get legal advice for your situation.