One in Six Tenant Applications in Ontario Are Fake
As the rental market becomes more competitive — and screening becomes more digital — the number of falsified tenant applications in Ontario has quietly climbed. Industry data and landlord reports suggest that roughly one in six tenant applications now contain some type of false, altered, or misleading information. Not always dramatic, but enough to change a landlord’s decision.
This trend is not limited to large cities or high-end units. It is showing up in suburban rentals, basement suites, and small investor-owned condos across the province.
What “Fake” Actually Means
A fake application is not always a completely fabricated identity. In most cases, the fraud is more subtle — inventing or altering just enough information to appear qualified.
The most common forms include:
*Fake employment letters
- generated online, edited PDFs, or real companies never actually employing the applicant
*Inflated income
- realistic numbers but not backed by real pay stubs or CRA records
*Fake or staged references
- friends posing as employers or past landlords
*Credit reports that are edited or not actually issued by a bureau
*Hidden co-tenants
- one tenant applies “for two” but the second person has poor credit or an eviction history
In other words — it’s not always identity theft. Sometimes it’s strategic polishing to appear safer and more stable than reality.
Why This is Happening Now
- generated online, edited PDFs, or real companies never actually employing the applicant
*Inflated income
- realistic numbers but not backed by real pay stubs or CRA records
*Fake or staged references
- friends posing as employers or past landlords
*Credit reports that are edited or not actually issued by a bureau
*Hidden co-tenants
- one tenant applies “for two” but the second person has poor credit or an eviction history
In other words — it’s not always identity theft. Sometimes it’s strategic polishing to appear safer and more stable than reality.
Why This is Happening Now
Fake applications tend to rise when demand is high or screening is strict. Three current factors are driving it:
1) Competition for rentals is intense
People believe they must “look perfect” or they won’t get approved.
2) Technology makes forgery easy
Employment letters, pay stubs, and even credit reports can be edited with consumer-level tools.
3) Applicants fear being judged on past hardship
Rather than explain a bankruptcy, eviction, or job gap — they mask it.
The Risk to Landlords and Tenants
For landlords, approving a falsified application increases the risk of:
* non-payment
* late rent patterns
* property misuse or over-occupancy
* costly and lengthy LTB disputes or eviction delays
For tenants, there is a risk as well. When the truth surfaces — often after arrears or conflict — the relationship breaks, and options for future housing become worse, not better.
Real-World Example
A tenant submits a clean application claiming full-time employment with a $78,000 salary. After lease signing, rent is only paid for the first month. A later request for proof reveals the letter was fabricated using a template purchased online. By the time the landlord files at the LTB, months of rent have been lost with no simple recovery.
This pattern is not rare — it is becoming routine.
The Bigger Picture
The rise in falsified applications is not just a legal or administrative issue; it reflects stress in the rental market itself. When one in six applicants feels forced to falsify documents to compete, it signals a deeper system imbalance — scarcity, mistrust, and the pressure to appear flawless.
1) Competition for rentals is intense
People believe they must “look perfect” or they won’t get approved.
2) Technology makes forgery easy
Employment letters, pay stubs, and even credit reports can be edited with consumer-level tools.
3) Applicants fear being judged on past hardship
Rather than explain a bankruptcy, eviction, or job gap — they mask it.
The Risk to Landlords and Tenants
For landlords, approving a falsified application increases the risk of:
* non-payment
* late rent patterns
* property misuse or over-occupancy
* costly and lengthy LTB disputes or eviction delays
For tenants, there is a risk as well. When the truth surfaces — often after arrears or conflict — the relationship breaks, and options for future housing become worse, not better.
Real-World Example
A tenant submits a clean application claiming full-time employment with a $78,000 salary. After lease signing, rent is only paid for the first month. A later request for proof reveals the letter was fabricated using a template purchased online. By the time the landlord files at the LTB, months of rent have been lost with no simple recovery.
This pattern is not rare — it is becoming routine.
The Bigger Picture
The rise in falsified applications is not just a legal or administrative issue; it reflects stress in the rental market itself. When one in six applicants feels forced to falsify documents to compete, it signals a deeper system imbalance — scarcity, mistrust, and the pressure to appear flawless.
Photo courtesy of Ivan S
