Download Residential Tenancies Act: Before and During a Tenancy, Issues Paper 7
The Alberta Law Reform Institute (ALRI) has published its second report on Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act. Residential Tenancies Act: Before and During a Tenancy, Issues Paper 7 is the second report in a series summarizing issues under Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act. This report focuses on issues arising at the beginning of or during a tenancy including:
- Selecting tenants or deciding to rent
- Creating residential tenancy agreements
- Security deposits and inspections
- Rent and other payments
- Utilities
- Fees and penalties
- Behaviour and rules
- Maintenance, repairs, and damage
- Forms and notices
This report does not make any recommendations for reform. Rather, the series is an inventory of issues that will lay the groundwork for upcoming recommendations that focus on specific areas of the law such as ALRI’s upcoming report on “Distress for Rent”. The report also highlights issues that could be addressed by government departments or other organizations who are better suited to improve the law.
Why Reform the Residential Tenancies Act?
The Residential Tenancies Act governs the rental housing sector in Alberta. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, sets rules for renting homes, and provides ways to resolve disputes.
The Residential Tenancies Act affects a wide range of people. Over a quarter of households in the province live in rental housing. Tenants can be from any demographic or background. It also affects landlords, from larger corporate landlords to individuals who rent a basement suite in their home.
The stakes in residential tenancy disputes go beyond money. They can impact
a person’s health, housing security, and overall quality of life.
The Residential Tenancies Act has not undergone a comprehensive review in over 30 years. It is increasingly out of step with social, economic, and technological realities. Many Albertans struggle to understand or comply with the law. These challenges underscore the need for reform to ensure the law remain relevant, accessible, and effective for all.