Denied an Apartment Over a Credit Check: What We Could and Could Not Confirm
Losing out on a rental is stressful. You can check your own report for free.
Quick Answer
Landlords must get your written consent before pulling your credit report, and a decline often reflects more than your score. Next step: ask the landlord which factor led to the decision, get your free report to check for errors, and offer proof of income, references or a co-signer.
Key facts
- Consent for a credit check
- Most provinces: consent needed. Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan: you only need to be told
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
- Checking your own report
- Will not affect your credit rating
- Source: FCAC, modified July 1, 2026
The FCAC says that in most provinces a business must get your consent before checking your credit. In Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan it only needs to tell you it is checking (modified July 1, 2026). We found no official source that lists what a landlord sees or weighs, so this page does not guess.
We did not read each province's rules in full. For your province, contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office, as the FCAC suggests.
- Ask the landlord what led to the decision. We found no official source that says a landlord must explain.
- Check your own report. The FCAC says checking your own report or score will not affect your credit rating. See our guide on getting your free credit report.
- If you are building credit for the first time, see our guide on building credit from zero.
We found no official source on what a tenant credit check shows, how much weight a landlord gives income, references or a co-signer, or whether a landlord's check is recorded as an inquiry on your report. We removed those claims from this page.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. See our Editorial Policy for how we check information on this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most provinces, no. The FCAC says a business must get your consent before checking your credit. In Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan it only needs to tell you it is checking.
We could not confirm this. We found no official source that lists what a tenant credit check shows. Check your own report to see what a lender can see.
We could not confirm this. Ask the landlord what led to the decision.
We could not confirm this for landlord checks. The FCAC says checking your own report or score will not affect your credit rating.
What to do now
Take these at your own pace. There's no deadline here.
- 1
Ask the landlord what specifically led to the decision. Many will explain if asked directly.
- 2
Check your own report before your next application, so you see what a landlord will see.
Get your free credit report - 3
Plan your next rental application, including guarantors, deposits and hidden fees.
Renting in Canada guide
If older marks showed up on the landlord's check, see how long they can stay.
How long negative items stay on your file