What Information Can a Landlord Legally Ask For? A Guide Under British Columbia’s Privacy Laws

Under British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), landlords must follow strict rules when collecting personal information from prospective tenants. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that only necessary and appropriate information is collected, balancing a landlord’s need to assess a tenant with the tenant’s right to privacy.

Information Landlords Cannot Ask For (or Can Only Request in Limited Circumstances)

Criminal Record Check
Landlords cannot require a criminal record check as a blanket condition of tenancy. A check is only permissible if it serves a purpose that a reasonable person would consider appropriate under the circumstances, and if the landlord clearly discloses that purpose to the applicant.
For example, a criminal record check might be appropriate if the rental unit is attached to a daycare facility. However, for most residential rental units, this is not considered reasonable under PIPA.

Banking Information
Landlords cannot require banking information—such as account numbers, balances, or bank statements—before entering into a tenancy agreement.
Once a tenancy is established, the landlord may collect rent through various methods such as cash, personal cheque, email money transfer, money order, automated bank withdrawal, pre-authorized debit, or credit card if applicable.

Your Age
A landlord generally cannot ask about your age unless it is required for a specific and reasonable purpose, such as confirming eligibility for housing that is age-restricted (for example, a building limited to people over 55 years old).
Outside of these exceptions, asking about a tenant’s age may be considered discriminatory.

Information Landlords Can Ask For (With Conditions)

Valid Government-Issued Identification
It is reasonable for a landlord to ask to see valid photo identification to confirm the applicant’s identity. The landlord should only view the ID and should not photocopy or retain a copy unless there is a clear legal or business reason for doing so.

References
Landlords may request references, such as from previous landlords or employers, but only with the tenant’s explicit consent.

Income and Employment Information
If an applicant is unable to provide rental references, it may be reasonable for the landlord to request proof of income or employment to ensure the tenant can meet rent obligations. However, landlords should only collect the minimum information necessary for this purpose.

Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Landlords may request a SIN if they have a legitimate reason to conduct a credit check and the SIN is required to obtain accurate information from a credit reporting agency.
That said, in many cases, a tenant’s full name and date of birth are sufficient for this purpose. Because SINs are sensitive and can be used for identity theft, landlords are encouraged to avoid requesting them unless absolutely necessary and to make the field optional on application forms.

Human Rights Protections: Grounds on Which Tenants Cannot Be Discriminated Against

Under Section 10(1) of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, landlords are prohibited from refusing to rent to someone based on any of the following protected characteristics:

• Race

• Colour

• Ancestry

• Place of origin

• Religion

• Marital status

• Family status

• Physical or mental disability

• Sex

• Gender identity or expression

• Sexual orientation

• Age (except in age-restricted housing)

• Lawful source of income (such as disability benefits or government assistance)

Can Landlords Research Applicants Online?

Landlords are permitted to collect certain types of personal information from publicly available sources without the tenant’s consent, but these sources are strictly defined under PIPA. They include public directories (such as the Yellow Pages), newspapers, and magazines.

Importantly, social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram are not considered “publicly available” sources under PIPA. While many landlords still review applicants’ social media profiles, doing so without consent may not be fully compliant with privacy legislation.

Still, it’s a common practice in tenant screening, and applicants should be aware that their online presence may be considered—whether or not it’s appropriate.

Conclusion

Landlords in British Columbia are entitled to screen prospective tenants, but they must do so in accordance with privacy and human rights laws. As a tenant, understanding what information you are and are not required to provide helps protect your rights and ensures transparency in the rental process.