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Responsibilities

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River Valley

Tenant – Frequently Asked Questions / Landlord Responsibilities / Landlord – Frequently Asked Questions

Tenant Responsibilities

The rules that a tenant must follow fall into two groups:

  1. The rules that are included in laws such as the Residential Tenancies Act or the Condominium Property Act.
  2. The rules agreed to in the rental agreement.

Renter’s obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act

The Residential Tenancies Act sets outs the rules a tenant must follow. If the tenant does not follow these rules, the landlord may have the right to end the tenancy and seek damages in court.

What rules does a tenant have to follow under the Residential Tenancies Act?

  1. Pay the rent as required by the tenancy agreement. A landlord can issue an eviction notice if a tenant does not pay rent.
  2. Look after the rental unit, keep it clean, and not damage it or the common areas of the property.
  3. Do not interfere with the rights of the landlord or tenants in other units.
  4. Cannot do anything illegal in the rental unit or common areas of the property.
  5. Do not endanger or threaten other people or property in the rental unit or common areas.
  6. Move out of the rental unit at the end of a fixed term tenancy. For periodic tenancies, give the required notice to end the tenancy, in writing, and move out by the date given to the landlord.
  7. Do not change the locks without permission from the landlord.

Contractual obligations

Tenants also have to follow other rules that are agreed to by the tenant and the landlord in the rental agreement. These rules cover things not included in the Residential Tenancies Act, such as:

  • whether or not the tenant can smoke in the rental unit;
  • whether or not the tenant can have pets, and if so, the rules around how many pets and what kind of pets are allowed; and
  • specific responsibilities such as shoveling snow or cutting the lawn.

Tenant – Frequently Asked Questions

Can a tenant refuse to pay rent?

What if a tenant breaks a rule in the lease?

Why can a tenant be evicted?

Can a tenant have guests?

Does a tenant have to tell the landlord if he or she is going on vacation?

Landlord Responsibilities

Landlords also must follow the rules outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act and the rules in the rental agreement.

Landlord’s obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act

The Residential Tenancies Act sets outs the rules a landlord must follow. If the landlord does not follow these rules, the landlord could be charged with an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act and face a fine. Tenants can also seek to terminate their tenancy or request financial damages if the landlord breaks the rules.

What rules does a landlord have to follow under the Residential Tenancies Act?

  1. Do not disturb the tenant’s possession or peaceful enjoyment of the rental unit. A landlord cannot enter a tenant’s suite without consent or without providing notice to the tenant. The Residential Tenancies Act states that a landlord must give 24 hours notice to enter a suite and can only enter for specific reasons (i.e. repairs).
  2. Ensure the rental unit meets the Minimum Housing and Health Standards. Landlords must ensure the structure of the building is safe, the heating and plumbing systems work, and wind, rain and snow cannot enter the building.
  3. If there is a written lease, give the tenant a signed copy of the lease within 21 days.
  4. Provide the tenant with the landlord’s contact information or have it posted in a common area such as the lobby or mail room.
  5. Give a valid reason with enough notice to end a periodic tenancy. The Residential Tenancies Act states how much time a landlord must give a tenant to end a periodic tenancy. A related regulation gives a specific list of reasons as to why a tenancy can be ended (i.e. major renovations, the landlord is moving into the rental unit, etc.).
  6. Give tenants at least three months notice, in writing, before increasing the rent. Landlords cannot increase the rent more than once a year.
  7. Pay interest to tenants on security deposits (the rate of interest is set by the Government of Alberta).

Contractual obligations

Landlords may have agreed to other obligations set out in the rental agreement. These rules cover things not included in the Residential Tenancies Act, such as:

  • specific responsibilities like shovelling snow or cutting the lawn; or
  • repairing suites within a certain period of time. 

Landlord – Frequently Asked Questions

Does a landlord have to provide the tenants with contact information?

Can a landlord increase the rent at any time?

When can a landlord enter a tenant’s rental unit?

Does a landlord have to do something about loud tenants?

Can the landlord or tenant change the lease without the other’s consent?

Does a landlord have to tell tenants if the property is sold?

Does a landlord have to tell tenants if the property is being foreclosed?

What are offences under the Residential Tenancies Act?

Tools to Help

Rent Increases - Information Sheet

Rent Increases – Information Sheet

Renting 101 Cover Page

Renting 101: A Guide to Renting in Alberta

8 Rules for Smart Renters (video)

8 Rules for Smart Landlords (video)

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2015

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  • FAQ – Now that recreational cannabis is legal in Canada, can landlords still restrict its use in rental properties?
  • FAQ – One of my roommates is moving out and we don’t have anyone new to move in right away. Is he still responsible for his share of the rent?
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    • FAQ – Can the landlord or tenant ever “break the lease”?
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    • FAQ – I’m thinking of co-signing a lease but won’t be living in the rental property. What are my obligations as a co-signor?
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    • FAQ – A tenant did not move into a property but already paid an application fee to the landlord. Can the landlord keep the money?
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      • FAQ – Can a tenant be evicted in the winter months?
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    • FAQ – Can a repair person enter the property without the tenant being present?
    • FAQ – Can a tenant stop paying rent while waiting for repairs to be done?
    • FAQ – Does a landlord have to give the tenant notice before making repairs?
    • FAQ – Does the landlord have to paint between tenants?
    • FAQ – If a tenant completes repairs, can they bill the landlord?
    • FAQ – Is a landlord allowed to make frequent and disruptive repairs?
    • FAQ – What are the Minimum Housing and Health Standards?
    • FAQ – What can a tenant do if the landlord won’t fix anything?
    • FAQ – Who is responsible to treat bugs in a rental property?
  • Resources
  • Responsibilities
    • FAQ – Can a landlord increase the rent at any time?
    • FAQ – Can a landlord or tenant change the lease without the other’s consent?
    • FAQ – Can a tenant have guests?
    • FAQ – Can a tenant refuse to pay rent?
    • FAQ – Do tenants have to tell the landlord if they are going on vacation?
    • FAQ – Does a landlord have to do something about loud tenants?
    • FAQ – Does a landlord have to provide the tenants with contact information?
    • FAQ – Does a landlord have to tell tenants if the property is being foreclosed?
    • FAQ – Does a landlord have to tell tenants if the property is sold?
    • FAQ – What are offences under the Residential Tenancies Act?
    • FAQ – What if a tenant breaks a rule in the lease?
    • FAQ – When can a landlord enter the tenant’s rental unit?
    • FAQ – Why can a tenant be evicted?
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    • FAQ – Does each roommate need to sign the lease?
    • FAQ – How many people can live in a house or apartment?
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  • Security Deposits
    • FAQ – Can a landlord ask for extra money if a tenant causes damage that costs more than the security deposit?
    • FAQ – Can a landlord charge a non-refundable pet fee and a security deposit?
    • FAQ – Can a landlord deduct carpet cleaning or painting expenses from the security deposit?
    • FAQ – Can a landlord keep the security deposit if inspection reports were not completed?
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    • FAQ – If two tenants rent an apartment together and one of them moves out, does the landlord need to return half of the security deposit?
    • FAQ – What can a tenant do if the landlord does not provide the security deposit?
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    • FAQ – What should tenants do if they don’t agree with the deductions?
    • FAQ – Who sets the interest rate for security deposits and when must the interest be paid?
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