Section 57 of the RTA covers service of notices. Under that section, landlords or tenants must serve notices, orders, or documents personally or by registered mail. The section does not specifically mention e-mail or text messages as service methods. However, it allows for service by electronic means if personal and registered mail is ineffective. Legal experts note that RTDRS adjudicators in written decisions have generally found them to be acceptable (the published case law is very scarce). What is effective service under section 57 also depends on the circumstances. For example, it may depend on whether the parties agreed to e-mail communication or the party serving notice can prove that an e-mail or text was read or delivered.
To learn more about this topic, refer to the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law “ABlawg” article, Need for Law Reform: Residential Tenancies and Electronic Communication.
Last legal review: May 2024
