N.B. Human Rights Commission issues reminder to landlords to treat all renters with respect
Landlords must respect the human rights of all persons.
That’s the title to a news release issued by the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission Monday following a rise in allegations of discriminatory practices in the province’s rental housing market.
The commission is reminding landlords and other housing providers discrimination based on any of the 16 protected grounds under the New Brunswick Human Rights Act — which include race, colour, ancestry or social condition — is illegal.
The commission notes in particular numerous alleged instances of housing discrimination because of family status, most notably for those with children.
Tobin LeBlanc Haley, co-founder of the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights, said she experienced that kind of discrimination firsthand when she and her partner moved back to the province in 2019. Haley figured finding a place to rent would be easy and never guessed her young child would cause any issues.
“This particular landlord told me you can’t rent in X building, you have to rent in this other building because we only allow children on certain floors or whatever or certain units, but hey, that is a violation of my human rights,” Haley recalls.
It’s not only families being allegedly targeted. The commission has also received complaints of housing denials from residents with physical or mental disabilities, as well as those who rely on a service animal. While some landlords don’t allow pets, service animals do not fall under that category and a potential tenant cannot be denied a place to live for that reason.
The Human Rights Commission says in 2022-23, housing related complaints (which include rentals) rose from just four to 13 per cent of the total complaints received by the commission. Haley says that percentage is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how many residents are dealing with discrimination issues.
“Because tenants in New Brunswick live without the protections that so many other tenants in the country have access to, there may be like a fear around following through with the complaint,” Haley says “If you experience discrimination when trying to rent and you’re just trying to find a place to live or you’re trying to mind a relationship with the landlord to keep yourself housed and you have experienced discrimination, it’s a whole other process to then go to the commission and start making the complaint.”
If a landlord is caught discriminating against certain grounds, it’s unclear how they may be reprimanded. Chair of tenant advocacy group New Brunswick Acorn Nichola Taylor says she has not heard of any cases where a landlord has been punished for their actions.
“What is the penalty if a landlord does this,” Taylor questions. “Does anyone know? It’s not clear and it’s not being written so if a landlord is discriminating against someone, how is that landlord being punished, how is that landlord being penalized? That has to be clear and transparent as this is something that is very serious.”
Taylor says laws in New Brunswick tend to favour landlords rather than tenants, and the best thing renters can do to prepare themselves for any situation they many come across in dealing with their landlords is to know their rights.
“There is a lot of information on the internet through the government,” Taylor says. “So you can look on their site and you’ll find out what tenants’ rights are, and how you can start the process if you need to complain against your landlord for whatever the reason.”
The commission also notes not all housing matters fall under the Human Rights Act, and advises renters to check the Residential Tenancies Act on the Renting in New Brunswick website.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police arrest 3 in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
BREAKING Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
WATCH LIVE Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto incident caught on video
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Who is Hope Hicks, longtime Trump aide who is testifying in N.Y. hush money case?
Hope Hicks, once a longtime trusted aide in Donald Trump’s inner circle, is testifying Friday in the New York hush money trial after being subpoenaed.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.