How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint in Burlington

Housing and Building Standards Ontario 3 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026 Flag of Ontario

Burlington, Ontario renters who face discrimination when seeking or maintaining rental housing have rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code and provincial enforcement processes. This guide explains where to report suspected discrimination, what evidence to collect, how municipal by-law enforcement may be involved for property standards, and the provincial tribunal route for human-rights remedies. Read each step, gather documents and dates, and act promptly to preserve remedies and timelines.

File early and keep dated records of every interaction.

Overview

Discrimination in rental housing based on protected grounds such as race, family status, disability, or sex is primarily addressed under the Ontario Human Rights Code and through applications to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Municipal by-law teams handle property standards and certain licensing matters but do not adjudicate Code discrimination claims.

Key enforcing bodies and complaint pathways are summarized below; follow the provincial filing path for human-rights relief and use municipal contacts for by-law or property concerns.

Penalties & Enforcement

Remedies for housing discrimination are generally ordered by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and can include monetary damages, orders to stop discriminatory conduct, and specific accommodation measures. Exact fine amounts for human-rights violations are not specified on the cited tribunal page[2].

  • Enforcer: Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for Code-based remedies; municipal By-law Enforcement for property standards and licensing issues.
  • Monetary remedies: damages for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect may be ordered by the tribunal; specific amounts depend on case facts and are determined by the tribunal or settlement.
  • Non-monetary orders: mandatory accommodation, reinstatement, or changes to rental practices can be ordered by the tribunal.
  • Inspection and municipal enforcement: property standards, unsafe conditions or licensing breaches are handled by City of Burlington By-law Enforcement; penalties or provincial offences for by-law breaches are set out in municipal documents and on municipal pages and may be listed as "not specified on the cited page" if a consolidated fine table is not present.
  • Appeals and review: tribunal decisions may be subject to judicial review at the Divisional Court within statutory time limits; specific time limits are available on tribunal guidance pages[2].
Municipal by-law teams enforce property standards, not the Human Rights Code.

Applications & Forms

The human-rights application is filed with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario; details and filing steps are provided on the tribunal site and in its filing guidance[2]. Municipal complaint forms or online reporting tools for by-law concerns are available from the City of Burlington; if no specific discrimination form is published municipally, file with the tribunal for Code remedies.

How-To

  1. Collect documents: leases, emails, texts, applicant screening records, photos, and dated notes of conversations.
  2. Contact the landlord or property manager in writing to request the discriminatory action stop and keep the record of that communication.
  3. If the issue relates to by-law or property standards, submit a municipal complaint to City of Burlington By-law Enforcement following their online process.
  4. Prepare and file an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for Code-based remedies; follow the tribunal guidance on required information and timelines[2].
  5. Seek advice: legal clinics, community legal aid or human-rights support organizations can assist with drafting and filing applications.
  6. Meet deadlines: file promptly; the tribunal guidance page lists filing details and any statutory time limits[2].

FAQ

Where do I file a complaint about housing discrimination?
File an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code; municipal by-law complaints go to City of Burlington By-law Enforcement for property issues.[2]
How long do I have to file a human-rights application?
Specific time limits and filing details are provided on the tribunal guidance pages; if a particular limit is not listed on the cited page, it will be noted there as "not specified on the cited page" and you should confirm on the tribunal site before filing.[2]
What evidence should I include?
Include copies of written communications, dates, witness names, application rejections, photos and any adverts or postings showing discriminatory criteria.

Key Takeaways

  • Gather dated evidence and written records immediately.
  • File with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for Code remedies.
  • Use City of Burlington By-law Enforcement for property or licensing complaints.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Ontario Human Rights Commission - rights and housing information
  2. [2] Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario - how to file and tribunal guidance

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