Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS)

Changes due to COVID-19

RTDRS offices are closed to the public

RTDRS is conducting all hearings by telephone. Parties to a previously scheduled in-person hearing will be contacted about the change. Parties wishing to proactively provide their telephone number for an upcoming hearing are asked to call 403-297-8550 and leave a message with their name, case number and telephone number.

RTDRS continues to accept applications through the online eFiling service. Email rtdrs@gov.ab.ca or call 310-0000, then dial 780-644-3000, for information pertaining to the RTDRS.

Applications for possession or termination of the tenancy agreement will be given priority in the RTDRS hearing schedule. Non-urgent applications, such as for damages or return of the security deposit, are being accepted but may incur a delay in scheduling while COVID-19 is being managed.

Protections for renters

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

• Rent increases on residential properties or mobile home sites were not permitted during Alberta’s state of public health emergency.
  • While scheduled rent increases can now take effect provided proper notice has been given to tenants, landlords cannot retroactively collect rental increases
• 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. This requirement remains in place until August 14, 2020, in keeping with the Ministerial Order.
  • RTDRS will not hear applications that could lead to eviction due to non-payment, unless landlords can demonstrate reasonable attempts to work out a 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.

Document service

The RTDRS has temporarily modified its document service requirements as follows:

• Parties to any RTDRS application are permitted to effect service by way of email as long as the parties have previously communicated by email and the party serving notice is able to demonstrate to the Tenancy Dispute Officer the email was delivered, such as with a reply, a read receipt or verifying software.
• Tenancy Dispute Officers may deem service by any method good and sufficient, as per section 3.7 of the RTDRS Rules of Practice and Procedure, where the Tenancy Dispute Officer is satisfied the application package has likely come to the attention of the respondent. A Substitutional Service Order is not required.
• If a Tenancy Dispute Officer is not satisfied at the hearing that the respondent was likely to have received the application package, the Tenancy Dispute Officer may adjourn the hearing to provide time for the applicant to effect service on the respondent.
• A commissioned Affidavit of Service is not required. Tenancy Dispute Officers will confirm service requirements as a preliminary issue prior to each hearing. If the Tenancy Dispute Officer determines it is necessary, the person who served the application package will have to be available, by phone, to attest to service.

For more information about Alberta’s COVID-19 response, visit COVID-19 info for Albertans.