Landlord and Tenant - CPLEA

Landlord and Tenant Information for Albertans

A Website of The Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta
  • About
    • About CPLEA and Disclaimer
    • Copyright Statement
  • Topics
    • Legislation
    • Leases and Agreements
    • Security Deposits
    • Inspection Reports
    • Responsibilities
    • Roommates, Subletting, and Assignment
    • Repairs
    • Notices
      • Eviction Notice (Notice of Termination of Tenancy for Substantial Breach)
      • Notice of Objection to an Eviction Notice
      • Notice of Entry by the Landlord
      • Notice of Landlord
      • Notice of Rent Increase
      • Notice of Termination of a Periodic Tenancy for Allowable Reasons
      • Notice to End a Periodic Tenancy
      • Tenant’s 14 Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy
    • Dispute Resolution
  • Resources
  • FAQs
  • Glossary
  • Find Help
    • Forms
    • Legal Advice
    • Government & Court Services
You are here: Home / Security Deposits

Security Deposits

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Condo

Moving Out / Frequently Asked Questions

Moving In

In Alberta, most landlords require a tenant to pay a security deposit or damage deposit before moving in. A security deposit is a one-time only payment and cannot be more than one month’s rent.

A landlord must place a security deposit in a trust account within two days of receiving it. The money stays in the trust account until the tenant moves out. Landlords must pay tenants interest on security deposits. The rate of interest is determined by a government regulation.

Moving Out

The landlord can use the security deposit when the tenant moves out, if the landlord has a valid reason for deducting money from it. Some common reasons that a landlord can keep money from a security deposit include:

  • the tenant owes money for rent;
  • the tenant has damaged the property and the landlord completed the inspection reports;
  • the tenant has not cleaned the property and the landlord completed the inspection reports;
  • the tenant has not returned the keys; or
  • the tenant owes money for fees.

Requirements for Returning the Security Deposit

When the tenant gives up possession of the property (which is usually when the tenant gives the keys back to the landlord), the landlord has 10 days to deliver a statement of account to the tenant. “Deliver” means the landlord must put the statement in the mail to the tenant in 10 days. It does not mean the tenant has to receive it within 10 days. Tenants who do not receive a statement of account can send their landlord a letter requesting the return of the security deposit (see example below).

The statement of account sets out the original security deposit amount; any interest being paid; the reason for and amount of any deductions; and the amount of the security deposit being returned to the tenant. If the landlord is returning some or all of the security deposit to the tenant, the landlord will include a cheque along with the statement.

Sometimes the landlord won’t know the cost of repairs or cleaning right away, and won’t know how much needs to be deducted from the security deposit. In that case, the landlord can deliver an estimated statement of account within 10 days, and provide a final statement of account within 30 days of the tenant giving up possession.

If the tenant does not agree with the deductions that have been made from the security deposit, he or she should write to the landlord requesting the return of the security deposit, and the reasons why the deductions are inappropriate or unreasonable. If the landlord and the tenant cannot come to an agreement on their own, then the tenant can make an application in Provincial Court or through the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service for return of the security deposit.

See our article, Getting your security deposit back.

securitydepositletter

Frequently Asked Questions  

Moving In

What is the maximum amount a landlord can ask for a security deposit?

Can a landlord charge a non-refundable pet fee and a security deposit?

Can a tenant pay the security deposit in installments?

Who sets the interest rate for security deposits and when must the interest be paid?

Moving Out

What can a tenant do if the landlord does not provide the security deposit?

If two tenants rent an apartment together and one of them moves out, does the landlord need to return half of the security deposit?

Can a landlord ask for extra money if a tenant causes damage that costs more than the security deposit?

Can a landlord deduct carpet cleaning or painting expenses from the security deposit?

Can a landlord keep the security deposit if inspection reports were not completed?

What should tenants do if they don’t agree with the deductions?

Tools to Help

Getting your security deposit back

Renting 101: A Guide to Renting in Alberta

Renting 101: A Guide to Renting in Alberta

RTA Handbook

RTA Handbook

 January 2015

Funded by

Territory Acknowledgement

The Centre for Public Legal Education respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 territories, the traditional lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

A Project of

www.cplea.ca

Please note CPLEA does not provide legal advice or legal representation. For publication and resource requests, click here.

Disclaimer

This website provides legal information for Alberta law only. It does not provide legal advice. Laws may be different in other provinces.

CPLEA does not guarantee the accuracy of Google Translate. Read the full Disclaimer.

Copyright 2020 Legal Resource Centre of Alberta. All rights reserved. Read the full Copyright Statement.

Copyright © 2023 Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta

  • About
    • About CPLEA and Disclaimer
    • Copyright Statement
  • Topics
    • Legislation
    • Leases and Agreements
    • Security Deposits
    • Inspection Reports
    • Responsibilities
    • Roommates, Subletting, and Assignment
    • Repairs
    • Notices
      • Eviction Notice (Notice of Termination of Tenancy for Substantial Breach)
      • Notice of Objection to an Eviction Notice
      • Notice of Entry by the Landlord
      • Notice of Landlord
      • Notice of Rent Increase
      • Notice of Termination of a Periodic Tenancy for Allowable Reasons
      • Notice to End a Periodic Tenancy
      • Tenant’s 14 Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy
    • Dispute Resolution
  • Resources
  • FAQs
  • Glossary
  • Find Help
    • Forms
    • Legal Advice
    • Government & Court Services