QUOTE (Berubeland @ Jun 22 2010, 09:20 AM) OntarioLandlord is being alarmist. 99.9% of tenants have no interest in pursuing any such action in my experience. Your rental property might also be hit by a tornado but what are the odds?
Are you speaking from a legal point of view, or your "luck" and "odds" so far? Because, all it takes is one lawsuit for you to quickly change your position on this matter. I`ve never lived in a home that went up in flames, that does not mean that I would ever disregard home fire insurance... no matter what the odds are of my home/investment catching fire.
QUOTE (Berubeland @ Jun 22 2010, 09:20 AM) I do not ever give any reason and if I don`t get a good feeling from that person I say that they are not accepted. Period. You have to have the strength of your own convictions. There is no requirement to give a "reason" and I do not give any.
If you can not provide a legitimate reason, that is because you are being discriminatory in your selection process.
QUOTE (Berubeland @ Jun 22 2010, 09:20 AM) For example I am currently renting out an apartment for a 88 year old senior. He wants no pets, no smoking, a senior, a woman and he wants the relationship to be amicable. His last tenant I placed paid the rent very well but didn`t speak to him for 2 years. One day when I go show the place I will meet someone who matches him perfectly. I will "feel" this. I can`t teach it to anyone else its a combination of experience and evaluation.
So basically, you are limiting access to housing based on age and sex, in addition to your own personal "feel" of the applicant (which no doubt includes more discriminatory attitudes)?!
QUOTE (Berubeland @ Jun 22 2010, 09:20 AM) I once managed a house with a christian fundamentalist on the first floor, Seniors on the second floor and some Goths on the third floor. Everyone paid their rent but every day I was fielding phone calls from one of these tenants. So matching tenants to the culture of the property is essential to peace of mind.
So I would say don`t give a reason at all.
Now it sounds like you take Religion into account for approving applications
I`m sorry, but your tenant selection process seems very discriminatory to me, and you are very lucky to have avoided any legal repercussions due to this. I would strongly recommend that you review the Human Rights code in your province, as you will come across that one person that will pursue legal action arising from your application denials.
Here`s some interesting info from the Ontario Human Rights Code:
4.1 Refusal to rent
While there are many housing providers who provide equal opportunities to all people applying to rent their premises, there are others who may deliberately refuse to rent to people identified by Code grounds. This type of direct and intentional discrimination generally arises from negative attitudes and biases.
Many housing providers, particularly smaller landlords who may be renting out portions of their own homes, are under the false impression that they may pick and choose tenants in whatever way they see fit. However, the Code applies to all rental housing arrangements in Ontario. Therefore, once a housing provider decides to offer a rental opportunity to the public, they must do so in a non-discriminatory way. A landlord or other housing provider who denies a rental opportunity to a person because of a personal characteristic that is identified by the Code is vulnerable to having a human rights claim filed against them.
A refusal to rent most commonly takes place in the form of discriminatory advertising and discriminatory tenant screening.
4.1.1 Discriminatory advertising
When listing rental opportunities, landlords may not exclude people identified by the Code. For example, phrases in rental advertisements such as “suits a working person” may indicate that people who receive social assistance or are unable to work due to a disability, or other Code ground, are not welcome or need not apply.
Other forms of inappropriate advertising include statements that a building is:
* “adults only”
* “adult lifestyle”
* “not suitable for children”
* “suitable for a single person or couple”
* “working people only”
* “professionals only.”
Discriminatory advertising that targets households with children may be more subtle. Where a landlord is attempting to discourage or deny applications from families with children, they may use specific euphemisms in their advertising.
Statements that a building is:
* • a “quiet building”[140]
* “not soundproof”
* “geared to young professionals”
may, however, when coupled with a refusal to rent to a family with children, indicate that discriminatory attitudes related to family status played a role in the refusal.[141]
Section 13 of the Code prohibits the publication or public display of any notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that indicates the intent to discriminate. Signs that include phrases such as the ones set out above may be in breach of section 13 of the Code.
