Credit score is low but income is high — accept, reject, or co-sign?

First, the legal limits in Ontario:

- You CAN ask for last month's rent as a deposit (this is legal under section 106 RTA). You can apply it only to the last month — not damage, not arrears mid-tenancy.
- You CANNOT ask for first AND last AND a damage deposit. Damage deposits are illegal in Ontario.
- You CANNOT ask for a higher last month's rent than one month.
- You CAN ask for a guarantor / co-signer. The guarantor agrees to be liable for the rent. This is legal and common for low-credit applicants.
- You CANNOT discriminate based on source of income, age, family status, etc.

How this typically plays out for the high-income / low-credit scenario:

**Path A — accept with guarantor.** Ask for a co-signer who has stronger credit. The co-signer signs the lease and is jointly and severally liable for rent. This is the most common solution and is legal.

**Path B — accept with thorough verification.** Verify the income source carefully (pay stubs, employer letter, bank statements). The high income mitigates the credit score risk for many landlords.

**Path C — decline.** You can decline, as long as you're not basing the decision on a protected ground.

What AI Credit Check tools like LandlordEzy's flag: the SPECIFIC source of the low score. Old medical collections that have since been paid weight differently than recent missed rent payments. Read the report, not just the number.

LandlordEzy's AI Credit Check parses the report and surfaces what matters. $59.99 per pull.