TENANT RIGHTS · ALBERTA
Tenant rights in Alberta
Deposits and the interest you are owed, 24-hour entry notice, repairs and standards, rent increase timing, and how a tenancy properly ends.
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
Security deposits
The maximum is one month's rent, held in trust and earning interest at the rate the province sets.
Move-in and move-out inspection reports are required. If the landlord did not do them, deductions for damage are very hard to justify.
You should receive the deposit, the interest and an itemised statement of deductions within 10 days of moving out.
Entry, privacy and locks
A landlord must give written notice at least 24 hours before entering, naming the reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Locks cannot be changed without giving you a key, and a landlord cannot lock you out for unpaid rent — eviction goes through the courts or the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service.
Entry without notice is allowed only in an emergency or when you have clearly abandoned the place.
Repairs and standards
The place must meet minimum housing and health standards — heat, water, safe wiring, working smoke alarms and a sound structure.
Report problems in writing and keep a copy. If they are ignored, municipal health inspectors can order repairs, and you can apply for a remedy rather than withholding rent.
You are responsible for damage beyond normal wear, and for keeping the place reasonably clean.
Notice and ending a tenancy
For a month-to-month tenancy, either side gives one full tenancy month's written notice, except for reasons the Act treats differently.
A fixed-term lease simply ends on its end date — neither side normally has to give notice, but check the lease for a renewal clause.
Evictions require proper written notice with the reason and the required period, and 14 days' notice for substantial breaches. Only a court order or bailiff can actually remove you.
Common questions
How much can an Alberta landlord charge as a security deposit?
No more than one month's rent. It must be held in an interest-bearing trust account, and the interest belongs to you.
When must my deposit be returned?
Within 10 days of the day you move out, together with a statement of any deductions. If the landlord keeps part of it, they must provide the statement and receipts within that time.
How much notice before a landlord enters in Alberta?
Written notice at least 24 hours in advance, stating the reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Emergencies are the exception.
Is there a limit on rent increases in Alberta?
There is no cap on the amount, but timing is regulated: rent can only be increased once every 12 months, with three months' written notice for a periodic monthly tenancy.
Official sources
- Alberta — residential tenancies
- Alberta — security deposits and inspections
- Alberta — ending a tenancy
- Residential Tenancies Act (Alberta)
General information, not legal advice. The Residential Tenancies Act and the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service are the authority in Alberta.