Saying no to an Ontario Disability Support Program applicant feels like a business decision - but in Ontario, it can be a human rights violation!

My name is Weiting Bollu, I’m the CEO at Openroom.ca. We look at thousands of court orders and tribunal decisions - yes, even the ones related to human rights violations.

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As a landlord, are there any implications to renting to an applicant receiving ODSP? This is a common question. 

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In today’s video, let’s look at the ODSP program, implications, and discrimination.

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What is the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)? 

It is a provincial social assistance program that provides income and employment support to people with disabilities in Ontario. It helps eligible individuals cover essential living costs such as housing, food, and utilities, and includes health benefits like prescription drugs, vision care, and medical supplies.

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For landlords, renting to ODSP recipients comes with both realities and rewards. On the plus side, ODSP payments arrive reliably each month, rain, snowstorm, or government employee change. While tenants may change jobs, ODSP does not suddenly “take a gap year,” which can mean steady rent when budgeting is done properly.

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The challenge is that ODSP shelter allowances are often lower than current market rents, requiring creativity, realistic expectations, and sometimes a calculator that sighs quietly. That said, many ODSP tenants value housing stability and aim to stay long term, saving landlords from frequent turnover, advertising costs, and awkward open houses.

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To qualify for ODSP, a person must be 18 or older, live in Ontario, demonstrate financial need, and meet the program’s legal definition of disability. ODSP defines a disability as a substantial physical or mental impairment that is continuous or recurrent, expected to last at least one year, and that significantly limits a person’s ability to work, care for themselves, or function in daily life. Many applicants begin on Ontario Works and then complete a medical review supported by healthcare documentation.

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Legally, landlords must remember that disability and source of income are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, so if you, as a landlord hear “ODSP” and say, “that’s a hard no.” That really isn’t an acceptable screening strategy. In fact, it’s discrimination. 

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On the flip side, don’t be blinded by a “guaranteed” income, or that ODSP will pay the housing portion of the benefit directly to the landlord. You can’t demand it in order to accept a tenancy. Remember that direct pay can be cancelled at any time and there is no such thing as guaranteed rent.

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But, as with all people, it is dependent on the individuals themselves. As a landlord, doing due diligence by checking income, credit, and previous landlord references can help you understand the risks for any given applicant. 

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What about collecting on a debt? 

A common concern is collecting on a debt if a tenancy goes poorly and an eviction occurs. Again, each person is different and an unemployed person has a likely probability of becoming employed again where wages may be garnished, or where the landlord will otherwise be able to collect from them. With respect to those on ODSP, collecting a debt can be a challenge but it’s not impossible. ODSP payments cannot be garnished directly; other income sources may be garnishable. But, if a person, regardless of income, has a good credit history, it is less likely they will fail to pay their debts and risk their credit.

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Okay, it’s time for our renting trio: the top 3 takeaways for tenants and landlords alike.

1. All applicants should be thoroughly checked; if you’re looking at credit, make sure to pull your own version of the credit report.
2. ODSP direct payment to landlords isn’t automatic - it’s arranged on a case-by-case basis with the recipient’s agreement or in specific circumstances. It can change at any time!
3. Watch out for discrimination. You may lose out on an awesome tenant because of a pre-conceived mindset. Violation of human rights may land you in court - and we sure don’t want that for you.
   
   

With clear communication, proper paperwork, and a bit of patience, those on ODSP can result in a stable, respectful, and long-term tenancy.

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And that’s a wrap. Did you enjoy this and want to learn more with me as I learn? Hit subscribe and I’ll see you in the next session next week. 

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Cheers!

• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): A provincial social assistance program providing income and employment support to people with disabilities in Ontario, including financial assistance, health benefits, and prescription drug coverage.
• ODSP Eligibility Requirements: The official page explaining ODSP eligibility criteria: must be 18+, live in Ontario, demonstrate financial need, and have a substantial mental or physical impairment lasting one year or more.
• ODSP Application Portal: The online portal where applicants can apply for Ontario Works or ODSP through a single application process, accessible 24/7.
• Ontario Works (OW): A social assistance program that provides temporary financial help to people in need while they look for work or improve their skills, often a precursor to ODSP application.
• ODSP Health and Disability Benefits: Information on health benefits available to ODSP recipients including prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental services, assistive devices, and medical transportation.
• Ontario Human Rights Code: Ontario's legislation that prohibits discrimination based on disability and receipt of public assistance in housing, employment, services, and other protected social areas.
• Section 2 - Ontario Human Rights Code (Housing Discrimination): The section protecting tenants' right to equal treatment in housing without discrimination based on disability, receipt of public assistance, and 15 other protected grounds.
• Policy on Ableism and Discrimination Based on Disability - OHRC: The Ontario Human Rights Commission's comprehensive policy explaining disability discrimination, duty to accommodate, and rights protections across employment, housing, and services.
• Receipt of Public Assistance as a Protected Ground - OHRC: OHRC resources explaining that receipt of public assistance (including ODSP, Ontario Works, OSAP, Old Age Security, EI) is a protected ground against discrimination in housing.
• Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO): The independent adjudicative tribunal that hears and resolves applications about alleged violations of the Ontario Human Rights Code, with a one-year limitation period.
• Openroom.ca: A searchable public database of landlord-tenant court orders and tribunal decisions where landlords can upload LTB orders and report rental debt to credit bureaus.
• Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) Ontario's legislation that governs rental housing and defines the rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords, including prohibited deposits and fees.
• Canadian Centre for Housing Rights - Income Source Discrimination: A resource explaining that landlords cannot request source of income to prevent discrimination against ODSP and social assistance recipients in Ontario housing.