Screening a Quebec tenant: SOQUIJ, credit, and landlord references

Reliable screening never rests on one SOQUIJ result or a first impression. It combines confirmed identity, consent-based credit review, payment capacity, verified landlord references, and contextual reading of public decisions. Use the same written criteria for every applicant, avoid discrimination, and collect only the personal information necessary for the rental decision.

How can identity be confirmed without over-collecting information?

Quebec's Commission d'accès à l'information says a landlord may request an applicant's first name, last name, and complete address. Identification may be shown to confirm identity, but the landlord should not copy or photograph it or retain its numbers merely to create a rental file.

How should SOQUIJ be used without mistaking one person for another?

SOQUIJ's public decision search supports party-name searches and includes the Tribunal administratif du logement among its bodies. Search reasonable name variants, then read the complete decision: being named in a case does not reveal, by itself, who succeeded or why.

How do you verify credit, employment, and a former landlord?

Obtain valid consent before requesting a credit report or contacting current and former landlords about payment habits. Assess capacity and payment consistency rather than one score; an applicant may also provide a bank attestation, relevant credit-file excerpts, or other evidence identified by the CAI.