Of course, the landlords can choose their tenants. However, they do not have the right to base their choice on discriminatory criteria.
Tribunal administratif du logement (anciennement la Régie du logement)
- It has jurisdiction over all matters relating to a residential lease
- If you are still looking for apartment, so there is no lease. Therefore, the Tribunal administratif du logement has no jurisdiction.
- However, as soon as there is a formal offer made, the Tribunal is competent even if the offer has not been accepted
Direct discrimination
- The landlords cannot refuse to rent to a person because of his particular ethnic origin, gender, social status or age.
- Discrimination can lead to a compensation
- Judicial actions are filed with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ). Although they do not provide housing, a winning cause can lead to punitive damages.
- It is the CDPDJ that takes over the case.
What you can do
- If you are interested in the apartment, announce it clearly. You can prove that you can afford to pay your rent regularly by providing your payed bills (Hydro-Québec, Bell, Vidéotron, etc.), as well as the receipts of your rents. You can also provide your old landlords’ references.
Do you believe you might be victim of discrimination? How to file a complaint
- Ask for the name of the person you have spoken to for their reasoning behind of the refusal.
- Take down the address of the apartment, the phone number, the date and hour of your visit, as well as the cost of rent, the number of rooms, and the availability
- Bring a witness with you who can testify
- File the complaint to the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ).
- Do it as soon as possible.
Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
http://www.cdpdj.qc.ca/
514-873-5146 / 1.800.361.6477
Offices : 360, rue Saint-Jacques, 2ième étage, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 1P5