Notice to End a Periodic Tenancy

A tenant can end a periodic tenancy by giving the landlord written notice. A tenant’s notice to end a periodic tenancy must:

• be in writing;
• be signed by the tenant;
• give the address of the rental unit; and
• state the date the tenancy will end.

A tenant must give the termination notice to the landlord personally or by sending it through registered or certified mail. If these methods do not work, the tenant can send the notice electronically (i.e. by fax), as long as it will result in a printed copy of the notice being received by an electronic device at the landlord’s address.

The amount of notice that a tenant must give to a landlord to end the tenancy depends on the kind of periodic tenancy that is in place.

• For a week-to-week periodic tenancy, the tenant must give the landlord at least one week’s tenancy notice. The notice must be given on or before the first day of the tenancy week for the termination to be effective on the last day of the tenancy week (i.e. must be given on Sunday if the tenancy week starts on a Monday).
• For a month-to-month periodic tenancy, the tenant must give the landlord one month’s notice. The written notice must be given on or before the first day of the one month period. For example, if the tenancy month runs from the first day of the month to the last day of the month, then the tenant would have to give the notice to the landlord on or before July 1 for the tenancy to end July 31.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the tenant does not give the proper amount of notice?

Tools to Help

8 Rules for Smart Renters (video)

Renting 101: A Guide to Renting in Alberta

February 2015