Are No Pet Buildings Legal in Ontario?

A “no pets” clause in a contract is void, but only in certain situations. A landlord can refuse to rent to you because you have a pet – but if you get a pet later, a “no pets” clause doesn’t allow your landlord to evict you. It’s important to really understand your rights under the law; if you’re renting a beautiful home or buying a great luxury condo, the same rules apply.

It’s Not Illegal to Advertise No Pets

It’s important to understand that it’s not illegal for a landlord to say that they don’t want pets – after all, that’s their prerogative. You can’t legislate that sort of thing… but many Canadians have taken the leap to just sneaking their pets into the building after they sign the lease.

Now this is probably not the best idea. You could end up in a serious pickle with your landlord, your neighbours could treat you like a pariah… but your landlord will not be able to evict you for getting a pet AFTER you move into the building. If you’re pet free the moment you move in, then suddenly, magically have a pet appear in your home, they won’t be able to evict you for it. Again, not a nice or bright thing to do!

Pet Ownership isn’t Covered Under Human Rights Code

Yep, that means little Fido isn’t a must have – but hoarders are now technically a protected class under the HRC so that should tell you something. Yes, you can’t bring Fluffy in with you on moving day, but you can bring in 30 metric tonnes of newspapers. Magical!

So you can’t claim that you have a right to own a pet – but you may be able to bring in a doctor’s note that says you need Pants the Cat to keep your blood pressure low or to fight your Seasonal Affective Disorder. Just know that landlords can and will call your doctor, so make sure that your doctor’s letter is on the up and up.

Service Animals are Protected

Another important point is that a service animal is not considered a pet – if you have a service animal you can go about anywhere you want with it. You can take it inside Tim Horton’s while you enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte (those need to come back, don’t they?), you can rent an apartment with one. Just like how buildings have to be accessible to those with disabilities and special needs, they can’t say you can’t bring in your service animal with you on moving day.

You Can Always Sneak Them In

But, as we mentioned earlier, you can always sneak them in. If you Google “Ontario No Pets” you’ll find blogs by tenants and lawyers telling you to do just that – but let’s face it, it’s pretty nasty to sneak your pet in!

It’s important to try and find a home first that understands the place that pets play in your life; if you move into a building with dog haters around every corner, behind every tree, it’s not going to be a fun living experience for anyone, is it?

The Goodale Miller Team is the #1 team in Canada for Century 21 8 years running. Specializing in Oakville luxury real estate including Lakefront homes, infill building lots, condominiums and more. You can view their luxury homes for sale in Oakville here: http://www.goodalemillerteam.com/Homes.aspx