trudeau rent credit score

Canadians react to Trudeau's proposal that rent 'count towards your credit score'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau believes that people's rent payments should count toward people's credit scores, but his proposal has drawn mixed reactions.

The new Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights, announced in March, would help young Canadians enter the housing market by improving their credit scores.

The proposal would make a unit's rental price history visible so renters can bargain appropriately. The government would also create a legal aid fund to help renters fight bad-faith evictions.

The proposal would also mean that credit bureaus must consider a renter's payment history when calculating their credit score, thereby allowing them to qualify for a mortgage.

"If you've been paying that on time for years, that should count towards your credit score. Soon it's going to," said Trudeau in a video posted on April 20. "We're going to change the rules of the game so you can report your rent payments towards your credit score so you can get a better mortgage so you can get a place of your own sooner."

Some people online are on board with these proposed changes.

"It sounds like there's a plan in motion to address housing affordability or access to homeownership," said one user, noting how "Making changes to the rules can potentially open up new opportunities for individuals and families to achieve their goal of owning a home."

But netizens pointed out that it's not just credit scores that are a barrier but saving up for a down payment while paying for "unaffordable rent."

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

With files from Megan Devlin

Lead photo by

@JustinTrudeau/X


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Lineups for the ferry from the Toronto Islands are already packed and chaotic

Someone tried to help at scene of Ontario crash and had their car stolen immediately

This race proves whether it's faster to 'ride the loop' on TTC subway or walk

Ontario is home to a second venomous snake species you may not know about

There's a new worst road in Ontario but Toronto's nightmare street is still up there

People are complaining about another feature of Toronto's declining waterfront attraction

Canada Child Benefit increasing soon and you could get nearly $7,800 per kid

A Toronto park is about to be totally transformed and here's what it will look like