Renting in Canada is governed province by province: each province has its own residential tenancy law and its own board or tribunal that settles disputes between tenants and landlords. That means the answer to most renting questions (how much rent can go up, how big a deposit can be, how much notice a landlord needs to enter) starts with where you live. This hub covers renting from the tenant’s side, with a page for each rule and a guide for each of the largest provinces.
Tenant rights by province
- British Columbia: the Residential Tenancy Act and the Residential Tenancy Branch, in the BC tenant rights guide.
- Ontario: the Residential Tenancies Act and the Landlord and Tenant Board, in the Ontario tenant rights guide.
- Alberta: the Residential Tenancies Act and the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service, in the Alberta tenant rights guide.
- Quebec: the Civil Code of Québec and the Tribunal administratif du logement, in the Quebec tenant rights guide.
The federal government has also published a Renters’ Bill of Rights blueprint, a set of principles it asks provinces to adopt; it does not change the provincial rules above. Rents, vacancy rates and each province’s rent-increase rule are on the rent and vacancy data by province and city pages.
The rules every tenant runs into
| Question | Where it’s answered |
|---|---|
| How much can my rent go up, and with how much notice? | Rent increase rules by province |
| How big can a deposit be, and how do I get it back? | Deposit rules by province |
| Can my landlord come in without notice? | Landlord entry rules |
| Can I sublet or assign my lease? | Subletting and lease assignment |
| How do I end a lease early? | Breaking a lease early |
Rent increases follow very different systems: some provinces set a yearly limit for sitting tenants, others have no limit but restrict how often and with how much notice rent can rise, and in Quebec a tenant can refuse an increase, after which the landlord can ask the Tribunal administratif du logement to set the rent. The comparison is on rent increase rules by province.
The money side of renting
- What you can afford: the rent affordability calculator works from your income and debts; average rents show what each city costs.
- Your first apartment: the full move-in cost, a first budget, applications and the lease, in the first apartment guide.
- Paying less: when you have leverage and what to ask for, in how to negotiate rent.
- Building credit: reporting rent payments to the credit bureaus, in rent reporting services.
- Insurance and tax: tenant insurance covers your belongings and liability, and some provinces give renters a credit through the tax return (renter tax credits).
- Renting vs buying: the rent vs buy calculator compares the two over time.
On the other side of the lease
Homeowners who rent out part of their own home will find the setup, the share of expenses they can claim and legal-suite rules on basement suite income. Buying a property to rent out is covered on becoming a landlord.
All renting articles
Getting started
- First Apartment Financial Guide
- How to Negotiate Rent in Canada
- Rent Affordability Calculator
- Rent Reporting Services Canada
Tenant rights by province
- BC Tenant Rights Guide
- Ontario Tenant Rights Guide
- Alberta Tenant Rights Guide
- Quebec Tenant Rights Guide
- Canada’s Renters’ Bill of Rights
Tenant rules across Canada
- Rent Increase Rules by Province
- Deposit Rules by Province
- What to Do If Your Landlord Enters Without Notice
- Subletting Rules in Canada
- How to Break a Lease Early
Renting out part of your home
Browse All Renting in Canada: Tenant Rights, Costs & Financial Guide Articles
Browse all 15 articles in this section.