Discrimination in Housing in Alberta
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
It is illegal in Canada to refuse to rent to someone, treat them differently, or evict them based on prohibited grounds. These include race, ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, family status, disability, and pardoned criminal conviction.
Provincial human rights codes may add additional grounds. For example, Ontario also prohibits discrimination based on receipt of public assistance — meaning a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because you receive social assistance or disability benefits.
Both direct discrimination ("we don't rent to families with children") and systemic discrimination (policies that have a discriminatory effect) are prohibited.
When does it apply?
- At all stages of a tenancy — rental ads, tenant screening, lease terms, maintenance and repairs, and eviction.
- Applies to private landlords and property management companies alike.
- Covers apartments, houses, condos, rooms, and all other residential rentals.
What to Do If a Canadian Landlord Discriminates Against You
- Document the discriminatory conduct — save emails, texts, screenshots of ads, and notes of conversations with dates and details.
- File a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) for federal matters, or your provincial human rights tribunal. Most have a 12-month filing deadline.
- Contact a legal clinic or community legal aid organization that handles human rights cases.
- Report discriminatory rental ads to the platform hosting them and to your provincial human rights body.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't assume nothing can be done — human rights tribunals exist specifically to handle these cases.
- Don't wait too long to file. Most jurisdictions have a 12-month deadline from the date of the incident.
- Don't retaliate against your landlord — it can weaken your complaint.
- Don't accept "it's already rented" at face value if you suspect discrimination. Document what happened and file a complaint.
How Alberta differs from federal law
Housing discrimination in Alberta is prohibited by the Alberta Human Rights Act, RSA 2000, c. A-25.5. The Act applies to tenancy, co-operative housing, and the purchase of property.
- It is illegal to refuse to rent to someone, evict them, or impose different terms based on: race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religious beliefs, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age (18+), marital status, family status, source of income, or sexual orientation.
- Landlords cannot refuse to rent to families with children or impose different rules on families (such as restricting which floors they can live on). Family status is a protected ground.
- Source of income is a protected ground in Alberta. A landlord cannot refuse you solely because your income comes from social assistance, AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), or other government benefits.
- Landlords have a duty to accommodate tenants with disabilities up to the point of undue hardship. This may include allowing modifications to the unit or making exceptions to pet policies for service animals.
- Advertising that indicates a preference or limitation based on a protected ground is also prohibited (for example, "no children" or "Christians only").
Additional Steps in Alberta
File a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights Commission within 1 year of the discriminatory act. Complaints can be filed online at albertahumanrights.ab.ca or by calling 780-427-7661 (use the toll-free prefix 310-0000). The Commission will investigate and attempt to resolve the complaint through mediation. If unresolved, it may be referred to a human rights tribunal. Remedies can include compensation, access to housing, and orders to change discriminatory policies.
Relevant Law: Alberta Human Rights Act, RSA 2000, c. A-25.5, ss. 4, 5, 10
Common Questions
When does discrimination in housing apply?
At all stages of a tenancy — rental ads, tenant screening, lease terms, maintenance and repairs, and eviction.Applies to private landlords and property management companies alike.Covers apartments, houses, condos, rooms, and all other residential rentals.
What should I do if I think a landlord in Canada refused to rent to me because of discrimination?
Document the discriminatory conduct — save emails, texts, screenshots of ads, and notes of conversations with dates and details.File a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) for federal matters, or your provincial human rights tribunal. Most have a 12-month filing deadline.Contact a legal clinic or community legal aid organization that handles human rights cases.Report discriminatory rental ads to the platform hosting them and to your provincial human rights body.
What mistakes should I avoid with discrimination in housing?
Don't assume nothing can be done — human rights tribunals exist specifically to handle these cases.Don't wait too long to file. Most jurisdictions have a 12-month deadline from the date of the incident.Don't retaliate against your landlord — it can weaken your complaint.Don't accept "it's already rented" at face value if you suspect discrimination. Document what happened and file a complaint.
Discrimination in Housing in other states
Same topic, different jurisdiction. Pick the one that applies to you.