Alberta Rent Laws
If you have a regular lease, your landlord can evict you if he or one of his or her immediate family members (defined as the spouse, child and other parents or parents, including in-laws) wants to move into the property themselves. A deposit granted to a landlord by a tenant cannot exceed one month`s rent. The owner is obliged to place all deposits in an escrow account with a bank, where he will accumulate interest over time. The deposit can also be deposited with a credit union, Treasury branch or trust company in Alberta, but must be deposited within two business days of pickup. Interest must be paid to the tenant at the end of each rental year, although it may be compounded annually and paid to the tenant at the end of each rental period, provided that this establishment has been agreed in writing by both parties. The landlord is not able to increase the deposit during the rental period. Information for apartment owners, landlords and tenants on cannabis restrictions in condominiums, apartments and rental apartments. If the agreement is written and signed by the tenant and returned to the landlord, the landlord is required to sign and return it within 21 days of the tenant signing it. The tenant has every right to withhold payment of the rent until he has received a signed copy of the rental agreement. If you have a rental problem, you can use this tip sheet to find out what to do. The tip sheet is a publication of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta.
While landlords certainly have a responsibility to their tenants, just like a tenant, you also have responsibilities to the landlord when you rent a property in Alberta. These include: For general information about renting in Alberta, please contact the Consumer Contact Centre: 1-877-427-4088 (outside Edmonton, Alberta only) 780-427-4088 (Edmonton and surrounding areas) The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta produces and distributes plain language brochures and pamphlets explaining the law. Topics include: landlord and tenant issues, pet rentals, roommates, shared housing, foreclosure, real estate; and legal-related teaching materials for schools. Publications are available in PDF format or printed copies can be ordered. A signed lease is not required, but if the lease is in writing, it must include the following statement in printed form and in a policy greater than the other printing of the lease: “The tenancy created by this contract is subject to the Residential Tenancies Act and, if there is a conflict between this agreement and the law, the law prevails. Application to the Provincial Court of Alberta under the Residential Tenancies Act and the Mobile Home Tenancies Act – Instructions for Landlords and Tenants: www.albertacourts.ab.ca/pc/civil/publication/rta.pdf (see Alberta Principal Contact, above) Notice given to increase a tenant`s rent must include the date on which the increase is to take effect, and it must also be dated and signed by the landlord. A lease agreement sets out the terms and conditions for renting a residential property. In Alberta, a landlord can legally increase the rent after at least one year on a term or periodic lease. Subsequent increases are also permitted each year thereafter. Unfortunately, there is no limit in Alberta to the amount a landlord is legally entitled to increase rent. Landlords are required to give at least 24 hours` notice before entering a tenant`s unit to make repairs, inspect repairs, or show the property to potential buyers or tenants, unless the tenant agrees. The only situation where the immediate entry of the owner is allowed is in case of emergency or abandonment.
A landlord`s notice cannot be used for more than one listing. Any landlord entry that does not constitute an emergency must be preceded by written notice 24 hours in advance. The landlord can ask the tenant for a deposit to cover the damage. The RTA limits the amount of this deposit to exceed the rental fee for one month. The deposit cannot increase if the rent increases. Interest on the security deposit must be paid to the tenant based on the prices set by Service Alberta. The Residential Tenancies Act (LRA) lists the various reasons why a landlord can terminate a tenancy. Pets/smokers are not on this list, although a pet/non-smoking policy may apply if it has been included in the lease signed by both parties. If a tenant intentionally violates the lease by keeping a pet on the premises or smoking on the property, the landlord has the right to ask the courts or the Residential Tenancies Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) to force the tenant to move. The landlord may also choose to issue a 14-day eviction due to a significant breach of the lease. To enforce an eviction in the event that the tenant refuses to leave, the landlord must ask the courts or the RTDRS to end the tenancy.
This is an agreement signed between the landlord and tenant on the fixed term, costs and responsibilities of the landlord and tenant. In no event shall this Agreement revoke any rights granted by RTA. The tenant can withhold payment of the rent until he receives his copy of the lease. When it comes to changing land use, for example: a parcel of land that is sold as a condominium or co-operative, or if the land is to be used for purposes other than a mobile home park, the landlord must give the current tenant at least 365 days in advance. Here you will find information about the life or operation of a rental property. According to the RRTA, a tenant is responsible for paying rent when it is due.