Discrimination in Housing in Quebec
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 Quebec differs from federal law
Housing discrimination in Quebec is prohibited by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, which applies to all aspects of renting, including advertising, tenant selection, and lease conditions.
- It is illegal for a landlord to refuse to rent, impose different conditions, or evict a tenant based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, disability, or the use of a disability aid (sections 10-12 of the Quebec Charter).
- Discrimination based on the number of children in a family is specifically prohibited — a landlord cannot refuse to rent to a family because they have children.
- It is illegal for a landlord to include a "no children" clause in a lease or to treat families with children differently from other tenants.
- Credit checks and reference checks are permitted, but they must be applied consistently and cannot be used as a pretext for discrimination. A landlord cannot refuse a tenant solely because they receive social assistance or have a low income if they can pay the rent.
- The CDPDJ (Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse) investigates housing discrimination complaints and can bring cases before the Human Rights Tribunal of Quebec.
Additional Steps in Quebec
If you believe you were discriminated against in housing, file a complaint with the CDPDJ at cdpdj.qc.ca or 1-800-361-6477 within two years of the discrimination. Keep all communication with the landlord (emails, texts, ads) as evidence. The CDPDJ investigation and mediation services are free. If the case goes to the Human Rights Tribunal, the CDPDJ can represent you at no cost.
Relevant Law: Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (CQLR c C-12), ss. 10-12; Civil Code of Quebec, art. 1899
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.
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