Landlord Duties on Source-of-Income - Saskatoon

Housing and Building Standards Saskatchewan 4 Minutes Read · published May 24, 2026 Flag of Saskatchewan · By Daniel Roy

In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan tenants and prospective tenants are protected from unlawful discrimination based on source of income under provincial human-rights and housing rules. This guide explains landlord duties, where to get official information, how to document a refusal tied to income source, and the steps to file complaints with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and provincial tenancy authorities. It focuses on practical actions for tenants and compliance steps for landlords to reduce risk and meet obligations in Saskatoon.

If you believe you were denied housing because of your income source, document dates, messages, and the landlord's stated reasons immediately.

Legal framework and who enforces it

Discrimination claims tied to source of income in Saskatoon are primarily handled under the provincial human-rights process; tenancy-related breaches may also involve the Residential Tenancies Branch. For municipal assistance or bylaw questions, contact City of Saskatoon By-law Enforcement or Licensing depending on issue type. For official guidance on prohibited grounds and complaint intake, see the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission guidance on housing and accommodation[1]. For tenancy-specific obligations and dispute resolution, see the Government of Saskatchewan Residential Tenancies Branch pages[2]. For local bylaw or complaint routing in Saskatoon, use City of Saskatoon resources[3].

What landlords must and must not do

  • Screen tenants using objective, consistently applied criteria (credit, references, lawful income verification) and document the criteria used.
  • Avoid policies that expressly exclude applicants receiving public assistance or a particular benefit unless a legitimate, documented business reason exists.
  • Offer reasonable accommodations where a protected ground intersects tenancy requests, and record each decision in writing.
  • Provide clear reasons in writing if an application is denied to reduce risk of a discrimination claim.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement routes are different depending on instrument: human-rights complaints go to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission and can result in remedies ordered by adjudicators; tenancy disputes go to the Residential Tenancies Branch for orders and monetary awards related to tenancy law. Specific fine amounts for source-of-income discrimination are not set out as fixed fines on the cited human-rights guidance page; monetary awards and remedies are determined case by case and the page does not list fixed penalty amounts (not specified on the cited page). The Residential Tenancies Branch outlines remedies for tenancy breaches but does not list a statutory fixed fine for discrimination on its public summary pages (not specified on the cited page).[1][2]

Human-rights remedies commonly include cease-and-desist orders and compensatory damages rather than preset municipal fines.
  • Monetary remedies: determined by tribunal or adjudicator; exact amounts not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary orders: stop discriminatory practices, require reinstatement of tenancy offers, or other corrective measures.
  • Escalation: initial complaint investigation, possible mediation, then adjudication; specific escalation penalties or tiered fines are not specified on the cited pages.
  • Enforcers: Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission for discrimination; Residential Tenancies Branch for tenancy disputes; City of Saskatoon By-law Enforcement for municipal bylaw matters.
  • Appeals and reviews: tribunal or statutory appeal routes where available; time limits for filing specific appeals are not detailed on the summary guidance pages (not specified on the cited pages).

Applications & Forms

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission accepts formal complaints through its complaint intake process and online/contact forms; the Commission web pages identify how to submit a complaint but do not list a numeric filing fee on the guidance page (not specified on the cited page). For tenancy disputes, use the Residential Tenancies Branch application and forms for dispute resolution; fees and exact form names are on the branch pages or forms section but some summary pages do not show fee amounts (not specified on the cited page).[1][2]

  • Human-rights complaint form: see the Commission intake information for how to file online or by mail.
  • Residential Tenancies forms: applications for dispute resolution and evidence submission to the branch.

Common violations and typical remedies

  • Refusing applicants solely because they receive social assistance — remedy: human-rights complaint and possible tribunal order.
  • Using blanket policies that exclude certain benefit programs — remedy: policy change order and possible damages.
  • Failing to document objective screening criteria — consequence: harder to defend against a complaint; remedies vary.
Documenting consistent, objective screening reduces risk and strengthens a landlord's defence.

Action steps for tenants and landlords

  • Document the incident: dates, names, messages, and any written denial.
  • Request a written explanation from the landlord for any refusal.
  • Contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to discuss filing a complaint or request intake guidance.[1]
  • If the issue is a tenancy breach, file with the Residential Tenancies Branch for dispute resolution.[2]
  • For local bylaw matters or emergency concerns, contact City of Saskatoon By-law Enforcement or Licensing.[3]

FAQ

Can a landlord in Saskatoon refuse me because I receive social assistance?
No. Refusal based solely on a source-of-income ground can be a human-rights issue; file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to start the process.
Where do I file a discrimination complaint?
Start with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission complaint intake; tenancy issues may also go to the Residential Tenancies Branch for a parallel remedy.
Are there preset fines for landlords who discriminate by income source?
Fixed municipal fines for this conduct are not specified on the cited human-rights guidance pages; remedies are typically ordered through the tribunal process and vary case by case.

How-To

How to file a source-of-income discrimination complaint in Saskatoon:

  1. Gather evidence: emails, text messages, advertisements, and notes of verbal refusals.
  2. Request a written reason for denial from the landlord to create a record.
  3. Contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission for intake instructions and submit a complaint form if advised.[1]
  4. If tenancy issues arise, file with the Residential Tenancies Branch and follow their evidence submission process.[2]
  5. Follow mediation or adjudication steps as directed by the commission or branch and meet any deadlines they set.

Key Takeaways

  • Source-of-income discrimination can be addressed through the provincial human-rights process and may yield non-monetary and monetary remedies.
  • Document denials and apply consistent screening to reduce disputes.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission - housing guidance and complaint intake
  2. [2] Government of Saskatchewan - Residential Tenancies Branch
  3. [3] City of Saskatoon - official municipal site and bylaw information

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Daniel Roy

Daniel Roy

Municipal Bylaw Analyst

Daniel analyses municipal bylaws across Canadian provinces and territories. He checks every guide against official municipal and provincial sources.