Tenant law: Your rights as a renter in each province
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Renting a home is an essential part of life for millions of Canadians, but navigating the world of tenant law can feel overwhelming. Each province has its own unique set of rules, and knowing your rights as a renter is key to ensuring a safe and fair living situation.
Whether you're new to Canada, dealing with a tough landlord, unsure about rent increases, or curious about your responsibilities as a tenant, understanding the laws in your province is your best defence. In this guide, we’ll break down tenant rights across Canada, province by province, so you can feel empowered and informed every step of the way.
A proposed renter’s bill of rights
The Federal Government has proposed a renter’s bill of rights that would “crack down on renovictions, introduce a nationwide standard lease agreement, and require landlords to disclose historical rent prices of apartments.”
To date, no such bill of rights is in force, but the government has published what it calls a “blueprint for a renter’s bill of rights,” which outlines its policy approach. The blueprint centres on four principles, which are:
- Ensuring everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home;
- Fostering fairness and transparency;
- Addressing inequity and discrimination; and,
- Safeguarding the system
Until an actual renter’s bill of rights is enshrined in law, it’s up to the provinces to determine what renter protections they will provide.
Renters rights are strong across Canada
While each province has its own rules and regulations for residential tenancies, renter protections are generally strong across the country.
When it comes to rent increases, each province sets limits on how often the landlord may raise the rent and specifies a minimum notice period. Some provinces may also limit how much landlords can raise the rent for most properties; for example, in B.C., the 2025 rent increase limit for residential tenancies is 3%. However, provinces such as Alberta do not set limits on rent increases. Additionally, most provinces will also set limits on rental deposits.
Each province also has a procedure for evictions that prohibit the landlord from taking unilateral action. Every province guarantees tenants the right to remain on the property until the eviction is enforced by the applicable local agency. All 10 provinces have laws preventing landlords from changing the locks or cutting off essential services before an eviction is enforced.
Where renter's rights fall short in many provinces are so-called no-fault evictions. Most provinces allow the landlord to evict a tenant to take back the property for personal use, or to perform major renovations. The minimum notice for no-fault evictions ranges widely between the provinces, and there has been no shortage of headlines calling out landlords’ abuse of the privilege.
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Renters rights by province
Each province has its own residential tenancy laws specifying what renters are and aren’t entitled to. This summary of tenancy laws by province outlines the basic rules around leases, deposits, rent increases, and evictions. For full information, consult your province’s regulations or landlord-tenant organization.
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
Newfoundland & Labrador
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
Is renters insurance required by law in Canada?
There are currently no laws that require a tenant to purchase a renter's insurance in Canada, though some landlords may ask for it as part of their lease agreements. They do this because most renters do not realize that their contents, additional living expenses and liability are not covered under their landlords policy. By requiring tenant insurance the landlord is not only protecting themselves, but also their tenant.
Even if your landlord doesn’t request tenant insurance, you should still consider purchasing a policy. It’s relatively affordable with policies as low as $15-20 per month (as cheap as a monthly Netflix subscription) and it affords you peace of mind knowing that you have coverage for your belongings and liability protection. There are many benefits to having tenant insurance, so it's worth investigating your options before making a final decision.
The bottom line
Understanding your rights is key to navigating the rental market confidently. While rules vary across provinces, staying informed helps you protect yourself and make better decisions as a renter.