Why Tenant Screening is Crucial for Ontario Landlords: The Numbers Don't Lie
💡 The Bottom Line:
For just $79, screening could save you thousands
Every Ontario landlord faces the same question when reviewing rental applications: "How do I know this tenant will pay rent on time and take care of my property?" The answer lies in comprehensive tenant screening – and the statistics prove it's not optional, it's essential.
The Hard Facts: What Poor Tenant Selection Costs You
🚨 Reality Check: LTB Wait Times in 2024-2025
Compare this to 32 days in 2018 – the system is overwhelmed
The Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) statistics for 2024-2025 paint a sobering picture. What used to be a quick 32-day process in 2018 now takes nearly a year. During this time, you're not just losing rent – you're accumulating costs that can destroy your investment returns.
💰 What an Eviction Really Costs Ontario Landlords
- Lost rent during process: $2,000-4,000+ (assuming $2,000/month rent)
- LTB filing fees: $186-201
- Legal representation: $3,000-8,000
- Property damage repairs: $1,000-5,000+
- Lost rental income during repairs: $1,000-3,000
- Re-marketing and vacancy costs: $500-1,500
- Total Average Cost: $11,500+
The shocking reality: Where landlords could previously expect to get an eviction order while still covered by a tenant's last month's rent, they now face being without rent for almost a year before getting a repossession order.
The Science Behind Effective Screening
Research from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reveals that tenant screening isn't just helpful – it's statistically proven to work:
| Screening Component | Risk Reduction | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Credit Check + Eviction History | Up to 40% | Comprehensive screening significantly reduces landlord risk |
| Risk Score Under 30 | 12% higher eviction rate | CMHC data shows clear correlation between scores and evictions |
| Employment Verification | Significant | Identifies unstable income, major factor in missed rent |
| Reference Verification | High | 90% of landlords now use comprehensive screening |
📊 Sources: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), Urban Institute and Avail Survey 2024-2025
Ontario's Current Rental Market Challenges
The challenges facing Ontario landlords have never been more severe:
- LTB Backlog: 46,632 cases as of July 2024, despite processing improvements
- Increased Applications: LTB expecting to resolve 100,000+ cases in 2024 – highest in history
- Professional Tenants: Growing database of tenants with multiple evictions
- Economic Pressure: Rising costs affecting tenant stability and payment ability
- Limited Recourse: Rent control limits income increases while costs rise
With the 2025 rent increase guideline capped at just 2.5%, landlords can't rely on rent increases to offset the costs of problem tenants. Prevention through screening is your only reliable protection.
What Effective Screening Looks Like
Professional tenant screening has evolved beyond basic credit checks. Today's comprehensive screening includes:
✅ Evidence-Based Screening Components
- Multi-bureau credit reporting – identifies financial patterns and debt levels
- Recorded reference calls – prevents fake references and provides documentation
- Employment verification – confirms income stability and job security
- LTB record searches – identifies previous evictions and disputes
- Document forensics – detects falsified pay stubs and employment letters
- Social media investigation – reveals lifestyle and behavioral patterns
- Public records search – identifies criminal history and legal issues
This comprehensive approach doesn't just reduce your risk – it provides documented evidence that protects you legally and helps you make confident decisions about every applicant.
Protect Your Investment with Professional Screening
Don't become another statistic. For just $79, 360Tenant's comprehensive screening could save you thousands in eviction costs and months of stress.
Your Complete $79 Protection Package:
- Multi-Bureau Credit Report & Financial Analysis
- Recorded Phone Calls to All References & Employers
- Professional Document Verification & Forensics
- Comprehensive Social Media & Public Records Search
- Landlord Tenant Board History Search
- Detailed Risk Assessment & Recommendation Report
- Legal Documentation for Your Protection
The cost of screening: $79. The cost of a bad tenant: $11,500+
Start Your Tenant Screening - Only $79 CADThe Real-World Impact
Consider this actual case from Ontario's rental market: A landlord is trying to evict a tenant who owes $7,800, has been trying to remove her since she missed rent last summer, and she's paid no rent since the LTB application was filed last fall. This tenant had been evicted from three previous units in the last three years for non-payment.
A simple $79 screening would have revealed: Multiple previous evictions, pattern of non-payment, and ongoing LTB disputes. This landlord's $7,800+ loss and ongoing legal costs could have been completely avoided.
⚠️ The Bottom Line for Ontario Landlords
With LTB delays averaging nearly a year, eviction costs exceeding $11,500, and professional tenants becoming more sophisticated, comprehensive screening isn't just recommended – it's essential for survival in Ontario's rental market.
Every day you delay implementing proper screening protocols is another day you're exposed to potentially devastating financial losses. The statistics are clear, the costs are documented, and the solution is available.
Don't let the next problem tenant destroy your investment. Protect yourself with professional screening that gives you the information you need to make confident, legally-backed rental decisions.