Renters’ Rights: What Landlords in Canada Need to Know

There are numerous things new and experienced residential landlords in Canada need to know before renting or leasing their properties, including the necessity of purchasing landlord insurance to protect their investments. 

Landlord insurance is a form of business insurance. Without it, landlords are on their own to pay for any damages or financial losses to or on their properties, and those losses can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars, especially if an incident escalates to a third-party lawsuit. It’s crucial for landlords to understand that a standard homeowner insurance policy is not designed to cover rental properties.

One crucial aspect that landlords may sometimes overlook is the understanding of a tenant’s rights in the province where a rental property is located. 

Download Our FREE Insurance Guide

Learn everything you need to protect your small business.

Your email address will be used by Zensurance to provide latest news, offers and tips.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Each province determines the rental and tenancy laws in its jurisdiction, governing a wide variety of issues, including rent increases, dispute resolutions, and evictions.  

Here is a general outline of seven rights that renters in each province have that landlords should know:

1. Rental Agreements

Rental or tenancy agreements may not be mandatory in all provinces, but they are highly recommended for landlords and tenants to read and sign. Other provinces, like Ontario, require the use of standardized rental or lease agreements. Your tenants should be provided with a copy of the agreement for their records.

The agreement should clearly state the rent amount, payment frequency and due dates, the terms and conditions, and outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

2. Rent Increase Limits

Increasing a tenant’s monthly rent is usually only permitted annually, but check with your provincial government’s rent increase guidelines to be certain.

The amount of a rent increase varies by province and year. For example, in Ontario, the rent increase guideline for 2026 is 2.1%. That means a landlord in Ontario cannot increase the cost of monthly rent by more than 2.1% next year.

Also, landlords are typically required to provide existing tenants a minimum of 90 days’ notice before they can increase the rent.

3. Evictions

Landlords cannot evict a tenant from a rental property without just cause, and an eviction notice must be served well in advance to a tenant you wish to evict (usually 60-90 days).

While eviction rules vary by province, some common legal reasons to justify eviction include non-payment of rent, using the unit or rental property to conduct illegal activities, damage to a property caused by a tenant, or if a landlord wishes to use the property or unit for personal use.

For example, in British Columbia, a landlord can only evict a tenant in specific situations under the province’s Residential Tenancy Act. These reasons include if a tenant does not pay their rent or damages the landlord’s property, and if the landlord intends to move into the rental unit.

4. Security Deposits

Landlords typically ask new tenants to provide a security deposit (sometimes called a rent deposit or damage deposit) in addition to the first month’s rent before moving into an apartment or rental property.

Each province caps the amount of a deposit a landlord can ask new tenants to pay. These deposits must be returned to a tenant within a certain period after they vacate a rental property, minus any allowable deductions.

For instance, in Alberta, the amount of a security deposit a landlord asks a new tenant for cannot be more than one month’s rent at the time tenancy starts, and the funds must be deposited into an interest-bearing account at a bank, credit union, or trust in Alberta within two days of receiving it.

5. Entering an Occupied Rental Unit

Respecting a tenant’s privacy and space is a key aspect of being a responsible landlord. This means that a landlord cannot enter an occupied rental unit without providing a minimum notice of 24 hours to a tenant, except in emergencies. The entry can only occur during reasonable hours – typically between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

For example, in Manitoba, a landlord must provide at least 24 hours written notice to a tenant before entering an occupied rental unit. The notice must be given in writing, including the date and time of entry, and landlords must make a reasonable effort to schedule the entry at a time convenient to their tenant.

6. Maintenance and Repairs

Landlords in all provinces are responsible for keeping their rental properties in habitable condition, ensuring the unit complies with all health, safety, and provincial housing standards, and making necessary repairs promptly.

For example, Saskatchewan’s Residential Tenancies Act mandates that landlords provide and maintain rental units in good repair, suitable for habitation, and in compliance with provincial standards.

7. Managing Disputes

Each province has a rental authority or tribunal that is tasked with mediating disputes between landlords and tenants over issues such as evictions, rent increases, and security or damage deposits.

Resources on Tenancy Rules and Laws By Province

The following links provide information and resources on landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities in each province:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan

How to Get Low-Cost Landlord Rental Property Insurance in Canada

Zensurance is Canada’s leading provider of small business insurance, helping small business owners and independent professionals get the comprehensive, affordable coverage they need, including landlord insurance.

Complete our online application for a free quote in just a few minutes.

Our friendly, knowledgeable team of licensed insurance brokers will shop our partner network of over 50 insurers to get the policy that suits your business, customize it to address your specific risks and budget, and issue policy documents and a certificate of insurance in 48 hours or less.