Changes due to COVID-19

Protections are in place for residential and mobile homes site tenants facing financial hardship due to COVID-19:

  • Tenants are still obligated to pay rent. However, rent increases on residential properties or mobile home sites were not permitted during the State of Public Health Emergency.
    • While scheduled rent increases can now take effect, provided proper notice has been given to tenants, rent increases cannot be collected retroactively.
  • Late fees cannot be applied to late rent payments until after June 30 and cannot be collected retroactively for this time.
  • Landlords and tenants need to work together to develop payment plans while COVID-19 is being managed. Rent Payment Plans (PDF, 144 KB). This requirement remains in place until August 14, 2020 in keeping with the Ministerial Order.
    • Landlords cannot issue a termination notice or make an application to recover possession due to non-payment of rent, unless they can demonstrate attempts to create a reasonable rent payment plan, or that the tenant failed to comply with an established payment plan.
  • Landlords can still file applications and receive orders for possession if the reason for the eviction is unrelated to rent and/or utility payments, or if a tenant refused to negotiate or comply with a payment plan.

Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) Handbook

The RTA Handbook is designed to explain the rights and responsibilities of all tenants, landlords, and agents involved in renting residential premises in Alberta under the Residential Tenancies Act and regulations:

  • Residential Tenancies Exemption Regulation
  • Residential Tenancies Ministerial Regulation
  • Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service Regulation
  • Security Deposit Interest Rate Regulation
  • Subsidized Public Housing Regulation
  • Termination of Tenancy (Domestic Violence) Regulation

Resources

Checklist for tenants (PDF, 169 KB)

Sample cleaning list for tenants (PDF, 100 KB)

Combined checklist and sample cleaning list for tenants:

Inspection Reports (PDF, 127 KB)

RTA Offences

Quick reference guide

If the Quick Reference Guide does not automatically load, choose "view slide show" in the PowerPoint presentation.

The Quick Reference Guide will explain the minimum legislated requirements set out in the RTA. It provides landlords and tenants with options to deal with matters not established as minimum requirements and makes residential tenancy resource material available in a user-friendly format. As a Quick Reference on residential tenancy matters, this does not set out everything in the RTA, nor does it state the law.  Landlords and tenants should refer to the RTA to determine their legislative rights and obligations. In every instance, the law as set out in the RTA governs.

The information provided in the RTA Handbook and Quick Reference Guide is not a substitute for legal advice.

Contact

The Consumer Contact Centre can provide information on many topics related to landlords and tenants:

Phone: 780-427-4088
Toll free: 1-877-427-4088