Think Twice Before Committing Fraud as a Tenant: The Serious Consequences You Need to Know

6/20/20231 min read

black metal frame in grayscale photography
black metal frame in grayscale photography

Providing false and fraudulent information to your landlord as a tenant can have serious legal consequences, including criminal charges, eviction, and a criminal record. It is important to be truthful and accurate when filling out rental applications or providing information to your landlord 1.

Under Canadian law, providing false information to a landlord can result in criminal charges, as it is considered fraud. If convicted, you could face fines and even imprisonment 2. Additionally, if you are found to have provided false information to your landlord, you could be evicted from your rental unit 3.

Furthermore, your landlord may share information about your fraudulent behaviour with credit reporting agencies, which could negatively impact your credit rating and future housing opportunities. This information may also be made public in court records, which could harm your reputation 4.

In summary, providing false and fraudulent information to your landlord as a tenant can have serious legal consequences, including criminal charges, eviction, and a criminal record. It is important to be truthful and accurate when providing information to your landlord.

Sources:

  1. "Consequences of Providing False Information on a Rental Application - RentSeeker.ca." RentSeeker.ca, https://www.rentseeker.ca/blog/index.php/consequences-of-providing-false-information-on-a-rental-application/. ↩

  2. "What are the Penalties for Committing Real Estate Fraud? - LegalMatch." LegalMatch, https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/criminal-consequences-for-real-estate-fraud.html. ↩

  3. "The Consequences of Providing False Information on Your Rental Application - ApartmentRatings.com." ApartmentRatings.com, https://www.apartmentratings.com/renters-library/the-consequences-of-providing-false-information-on-your-rental-application.html. ↩

  4. "The Renter's Guide to Tenant Privacy Rights - Privacy Rights Clearinghouse." Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, https://privacyrights.org/consumer-guides/renters-guide-tenant-privacy-rights.