Settled Case summary #19: SIN not required when signing apartment lease (February 3, 2006)
A student complained about being required to provide his Social Insurance Number (SIN) to rent an apartment. The property management firm initially required the SIN for identity verification, credit checks, and collections. Following the OPC's guidance and federal policy against the SIN becoming a universal identifier, the firm revised its lease agreement to only require a driver's license for identification, making SIN provision optional.
- Necessity of collecting SIN for identity verification and credit checks
- Requirement of SIN as a condition of service for renting an apartment
- Overtly indicating to the customer that SIN provision is optional
Complaint settled — no contravention found due to corrective action
The property management firm revised its policy to no longer require the SIN as a condition of service, making the complaint moot and settling the matter.
AI-generated summary for reference only. Always verify against the official decision ↗
The property management firm revised its lease agreement to no longer require SINs from potential lessees, and now only requires a driver's license for identification.
- SIN policy issued by the federal government
- PIPEDA
This summary is informational only and not legal advice.