Credit Score
A three-digit number, usually 300 to 900 in Canada, that estimates how likely you are to repay borrowed money.
A credit score is a three-digit number based on the information in your credit report. It estimates how likely you are to repay borrowed money. In Canada, scores usually range from 300 to 900, and a higher score is better.
There is no single score. Credit bureaus and lenders use different formulas, so the number you see may differ from the one a lender or landlord sees. Your credit history matters: how long you have had credit, the age of each account and the types of credit you use. So do any collections, insolvency or bankruptcy. Your habits matter too. These include missed payments, how much you owe, being near or over your limits, and how often you apply for new credit.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada calls payment history the most important part of your score. Paying at least the minimum on time, every time, builds it. The FCAC also suggests using less than 30% of your total credit limit. Keeping older accounts open and active can help, because closing them can shorten your history and reduce your available credit.
Checking your own score does not lower it. The FCAC says Equifax provides a free score in all provinces and territories. TransUnion provides one free to residents of Ontario and Quebec as part of its consumer disclosure.
No official minimum score is needed to rent or borrow. Landlords and lenders set their own standards and weigh a score alongside income, references and rental history. In Ontario, the Human Rights Commission says a lack of credit history should not be viewed negatively when screening tenants. A steady record of on-time payments matters more than reaching an exact number.
Sources
- FCAC: Credit report and score basics
- FCAC: Improve your credit score
- FCAC: Getting your credit report and credit score
- TransUnion Canada: Credit score
Last reviewed October 16, 2026.
Related terms in Screening & Credit
- Guarantor A person, often a parent, who promises to pay the rent if the tenant does not. Human-rights law limits when landlords may require one.
- Hard vs Soft Inquiry A hard inquiry is a credit check for a lending decision that can lower your score; a soft inquiry, like checking your own credit, does not.
- Protected Grounds Personal characteristics, such as race, disability or receipt of public assistance, that a landlord cannot use to refuse or treat a renter unfairly.
- Rent-to-Income Ratio Rent as a share of an applicant's income. In Ontario, using it as a cut-off is illegal outside subsidized housing.
General information only, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and vary by province; confirm the current details with the relevant authority before you rely on them.