The Law That Governs Your Rental: The Residential Tenancies Act
Every residential rental in Alberta — whether you're in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, or Lethbridge — is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). This provincial law sets out the baseline rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants. No lease clause can override the RTA: if a landlord includes a term that violates the Act, that term is unenforceable.
Security Deposits: The Rules Landlords Often Break
Alberta landlords can charge a maximum security deposit of one month's rent. Not two months. Not 'first and last.' One month's rent. The deposit must be returned to you within 10 days of the tenancy ending, or the landlord must provide a written itemized list of deductions within that same 10-day window.
If your landlord doesn't return your deposit within 10 days and provides no itemization, you can apply to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) to recover it — and courts have consistently ruled in tenants' favour when landlords miss this deadline. Take photos of everything when you move in and have the landlord sign a written move-in inspection report. Without it, deducting for damage is much harder for them to prove.
Rent Increases: What's Legal
Unlike Ontario and BC, Alberta has no rent control for most properties. A landlord can raise rent to any amount — but they must give you proper notice. The required notice period is the same as your rental period: if you pay monthly, you get at least one full rental period's notice (at minimum, 365 days for periodic tenancies, though most landlords interpret this as one month). As of 2024, Alberta amended the RTA to require landlords to give tenants written notice of a rent increase, and the increase cannot take effect within a fixed-term lease unless the lease explicitly permits it.
Repairs and Maintenance: Your Right to a Habitable Home
Landlords are legally required to maintain rental premises in a good state of repair and fit for habitation. This means working heat (critical in Alberta winters), functioning plumbing, no pest infestations, and structurally sound conditions. If your landlord refuses to make urgent repairs, you can: document the problem in writing, give written notice requesting repairs within a reasonable timeframe, and if still unaddressed, apply to the RTDRS for a rent reduction or order compelling repairs.
Do not withhold rent as leverage for repairs. This is illegal under the RTA and can result in eviction proceedings being filed against you, regardless of how justified your frustration is.
Entry Rights: When Can a Landlord Enter?
A landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your unit for inspections or non-emergency repairs, and entry must occur during reasonable hours (typically 8am–8pm). In a genuine emergency (burst pipe, fire, gas leak), they can enter without notice. If a landlord repeatedly enters without notice, that constitutes harassment and grounds for an RTDRS complaint.
Eviction: Your Protections
You cannot be evicted without cause in Alberta. Valid grounds for eviction include: non-payment of rent, significant damage to the property, conducting illegal activity on the premises, disturbing other tenants, or the landlord needing the unit for personal use (with proper notice). The required notice period depends on the reason and your tenancy type. For non-payment, a landlord can serve a 14-day notice to vacate. For other causes, longer notice periods apply.
If you receive an eviction notice you believe is improper, apply to the RTDRS immediately. The process is accessible, low-cost, and most tenants who apply with documentation receive fair hearings.
Where to Get Help
The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) is Alberta's dedicated tribunal for landlord-tenant disputes. Applications are available online and in-person. Legal Aid Alberta provides free legal advice to low-income tenants facing eviction. The Calgary Tenant Resource and Community Hub (TRACH) and Edmonton's Bissell Centre offer tenant advocacy support.