Ontario Landlord Guide › How to screen tenants from Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace messages

How to screen tenants from Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace messages

Last updated October 22, 2026 · Written for small Ontario landlords

If you list a room or basement on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace, you'll get dozens of messages in a day. Most of the screening happens in the first message, before you ever book a viewing. Here's what I've learned as a small GTA landlord, kept within Ontario's Human Rights Code.

1. The first message tells you a lot

The best inquiries usually introduce the person without being asked: "Hi, I work at [employer] and I'm relocating for a contract starting Dec 1. It's just me, non-smoker. When could I view?" They've read the ad, answered its questions and told you their timeline. Busy, steady people often have sparse social profiles, and that's fine.

The weakest inquiries are one-liners like "Available?" or "Pets?" that ignore the questions your ad asked. Your ad can ask everyone the same few things up front: move-in date, who's moving in, a little about themselves, smoking and pets. Then treat everyone by the same rule: people who answer get a reply first.

Ad line that works: "When you message, please tell me a bit about yourself, your move-in date, how many people, and whether you smoke or have pets. I reply to complete messages first."

2. Keep it fair (Human Rights Code)

If the Code applies to your rental (and it does unless your renter shares your kitchen or bathroom while you live there), you can't choose or refuse based on race, place of origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, or receipt of public assistance. Under O. Reg. 290/98 you may ask for rental history, credit references and consent to a credit check, and income information alongside them.

Don't write ads like "must have job", "no ODSP", "professionals only" or "perfect for a student". Describe the space, not the person.
Don't use rent-to-income cut-offs like "rent under 30% of income".
Don't treat a lack of credit or rental history (newcomers, students) as a negative on its own.
Asking about pets and smoking is about fit with the unit and is generally fine to ask everyone.

3. Why many good tenants push back on pre-screening apps

Services like SingleKey let you send a pre-screening link before a viewing. In practice, many good applicants are put off: "Why do you want my email and details before I've even seen the place?" Pre-screening makes sense from the landlord's side, but if the first message already answers your questions, a short phone call and a viewing usually work better. Save the formal application and the credit check (with written consent) for after the viewing, when both sides are interested.

4. Spot the faked application

Pay stubs with round numbers, odd fonts, or an employer with no web presence → call the employer's main line yourself (not the number on the stub).
References that only text, or a "previous landlord" with no link to the address → check property ownership where you can and ask specific questions.
Pressure to skip the viewing, overpayment "by mistake", or a deposit sent before signing → classic scam patterns. See the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Check published LTB orders: since July 24, 2026 the LTB posts final orders (except confidential ones) on the Ontario Data Catalogue every month, and some older orders are on CanLII. Coverage is still being filled in, so finding nothing proves nothing.

5. A simple, consistent process

Ask everyone the same questions in the ad.
Reply first to complete messages; book short phone calls.
Do the viewing.
Take a written application from everyone who wants the place: rental history, references, consent for a credit check.
Score each applicant the same way and keep notes on why you chose who you chose.
Shred applications you don't need once you've decided. Don't ask for a SIN; a credit check doesn't need one.

The toolkit includes a weighted Tenant Screening Scorecard, 11 Kijiji/Facebook reply scripts, a document verification checklist for faked applications, and a "what you can't ask" sheet.

Official sources

Not legal advice. This site is general information written by a small Ontario landlord, based on official Ontario and Tribunals Ontario sources as of October 22, 2026. Laws and LTB forms change; check the linked official source before you act, and talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal (or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234) about your situation. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board. Full disclaimer.