Discrimination in Housing in Saskatchewan
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 Saskatchewan differs from federal law
Discrimination in housing in Saskatchewan is prohibited by The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018, which covers all aspects of renting and homeownership.
- A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you, set different terms, or evict you based on: religion, creed, marital status, family status, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, disability, age (18 and over), colour, ancestry, nationality, place of origin, race or perceived race, receipt of public assistance, or gender identity and gender expression.
- Receipt of public assistance is a protected ground — a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you because you receive social assistance, disability benefits, or other government income.
- The Code applies to rental advertisements, application forms, lease terms, services provided by the landlord, and eviction decisions.
- Landlords must accommodate tenants with disabilities up to the point of undue hardship.
- A "no children" or "adults only" policy is generally discriminatory based on family status, with limited exceptions.
Additional Steps in Saskatchewan
If you experience housing discrimination, file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission within 1 year at saskatchewanhumanrights.ca or 306-933-5952 / 1-800-667-9249. You may also raise the issue at the ORT if it involves a breach of The Residential Tenancies Act. Free legal help is available from Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan (CLASSIC) at 306-653-5255.
Relevant Law: The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018, SS 2018, c. S-24.2, ss. 2-1, 12
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.