Renting

Whether you are a tenant living in a rental property or a landlord renting out a property, there are laws you need to know about!

The resources on this page were hand-picked by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta's staff as a good place to start.

You may also find helpful resources listed under the legal topic: Landlord and tenant.

Check out CPLEA's website Laws for Landlords and Tenants in Alberta at www.landlordandtenant.org

Information, links and answers to important questions on COVID-19 for Albertans.  This page summarizes provincial and federal information about changes in the law and legal services as a result of the pandemic.


CPLEA Suggested Resources

Not sure where to begin finding answers to your questions. Get started with our suggested resources. See additional resources below for more information.

Alberta Resources

This booklet produced by Student Legal Services at the University of Alberta looks at the rules and expectations of their landllord when living in a student residence. Student residences are housing options where the tenant is the student and the landlord is the studen'ts school. The Residential Tenancies Act does not apply to student residences UNLESS the residence unit is self-contained (domitory style residences are not self-contained.

Related legal topic(s):

This online resource is from the Government of Alberta and includes information about: Renting; Buying; Building/Buying a New Home; Condominiums, Cooperatives and Mobile Homes; Real Estate Agents, Home Inspectors and Appraisers; Legal Resources; Home Insurance; Property Taxes; Utilities; Renovations and Repairs; Housing Supports - Aboriginal Peoples; Housing Supports - Immigrants and Non-Residents; Housing Supports - Low Income; Housing Supports - Persons with Disabilities; Housing Supports - Rural Residents; Housing Supports - Seniors; Housing Supports - Students; and Additional Resources.

Related legal topic(s): Landlord and tenant, Real estate and home ownership

In August 2016, the Residential Tenancies (Safer Spaces for Victims of Domestic Violence) Amendment Act, Termination of Tenancy (Domestic Violence) Regulation, and amendments to the RTA Ministerial Regulation, were proclaimed. These changes to the RTA allow victims of domestic violence to end a tenancy early and without financial penalty. This legislation applies in cases where if the tenancy continues: •  The tenant’s safety is at risk; •  A dependant child’s safety is at risk; or •  A protected adult’s safety is at risk.

Related legal topic(s): Child abuse, Landlord and tenant, Relationship violence, Spousal abuse

The Residential Tenancy Act is provided by the King's Printer. (PDF - 55 pages)
Related legal topic(s): Landlord and tenant

This Handbook is designed to explain the rights and responsibilities of all tenants, landlords, and agents involved in renting residential premises in Alberta under the Residential Tenancies Act. The Handbook will explain the minimum legislated requirements set out in the RTA. It provides landlords and tenants with options to deal with matters not established as minimum requirements and makes residential tenancy resource material available in a user-friendly format.

Related legal topic(s):

The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) offers landlords and tenants an alternative means of resolving serious disputes outside of court. The Service is designed to be faster, more informal and less expensive than the courts. A tenant or a landlord who has concerns related to an eviction, unpaid rent/utilities, security deposit, damages, repairs or other common disagreements can use the service.

Related legal topic(s): Landlord and tenant, Mediation and alternative dispute resolution

Find commonly used application forms, affidavits, notices and tip sheets for residential tenancy disputes in Alberta.

Related legal topic(s): Legal process

Both the City of Edmonton and City of Calgary have passed bylaws about the licencing of short-term rentals. The City of Edmonton’s bylaw about short-term rentals is already in effect. The City of Calgary’s bylaw about short-term rentals will come into effect on February 1, 2020.

This page provides information on short-term rentals in Edmonton only. Information about short-term rentals in Calgary will be added to this page. If you have a question about short-term rentals outside of Edmonton, contact your local municipality.

Related legal topic(s): Municipal information and bylaws

Pages