While the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) addresses the rights and obligations between landlords and tenants, it does not address the rights and obligations between roommates. Before moving in with someone, you should have a written roommate agreement in place to prevent future problems. You can download a sample roommate agreement here.
If you do have a problem with your roommate, the first step is to try communicating about the situation. See if you can find a solution. If you reach an agreement, make sure it is in writing. It is important to document problems and solutions in case you need to take further action .
Since the RTA does not apply to roommate conflicts, you do not have the option of going to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) if you need help resolving a problem with your roommate. If you can’t reach a resolution with your roommate, you may wish to consider mediation or making an application to Alberta Court of Justice. Get legal advice if you plan to make a court application.
A list of organizations that provide legal advice are located on our website.
More information on shared accommodation can be located on our Roommates, Subletting and Assignment – Landlord as Roommate web page.
You can read more about the general dispute resolution processes for landlords and tenants on our Dispute Resolution web page.
November 2023
