According to the OIPC, landlords can always ask for the following information:

• name and proof of identity;
• contact information;
• name of current and previous landlords;
• eviction history;
• addresses of previous residences and how long lived there;
• reason(s) for leaving previous residences;
• pet information;
• expected length of tenancy;
• consent for a criminal record check; and
• number of occupants.

According to the OIPC, landlords can sometimes ask for the following information:

• birth date;
• age of unit occupants;
• social insurance number (SIN);
• non-landlord (personal) references;
• amount of current or previous rent;
• current employment and salary information;
• consent for a credit check;
• bank statements; and
• federal tax assessments.

Whether or not a landlord can ask for this information will depend on the situation. For example, a landlord may be allowed to ask for pay stubs, bank statements, income tax assessments or consent for a credit check, but only if you are unable to provide satisfactory references or employment and income verification. Similarly, a landlord may be able to ask about your age if you are applying for housing reserved for seniors aged 55 or older.

SIN: If your landlord has grounds to ask for a credit check, they may also ask you for your birth date and SIN. To avoid having to provide your SIN, consider running a free credit check on yourself and distributing copies to potential landlords.

According to the OIPC, landlords can almost never ask for the following information:

• consent to collect personal information “from other sources”;
• proof of insurance;
• driver’s licence number;
• whether any intended occupants smoke;
• vehicle information;
• applicant’s banking history;
• marital status;
• credit card number; and
• emergency contact info.

If a landlord refuses to rent to you because you didn’t provide this personal information, you can consider filing a complaint with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC.