Can a landlord take rent in advance?
Last updated: October 15, 2026
Short answer
The law limits how much a landlord can collect up front beyond the first period's rent. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador ban prepaying the last month's rent, Saskatchewan bans collecting money to cover rent that comes due in the future, and Manitoba voids a term that makes rent payable before the stated payment date. Ontario allows a rent deposit for the last month, capped at one rental period, and the other provinces covered here cap the security deposit.
Rent in advance and deposit limits, by province
The questions are whether a landlord can also collect last month's rent and how much extra money is allowed as a deposit. Where the table says we found no advance-rent rule, the Acts we reviewed do not address advance rent directly, so the deposit cap and the lease are what limit the landlord.
| Province | Last month's rent or other rent in advance | Security deposit cap |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | We found no advance-rent rule beyond the deposit cap. A non-refundable pet fee is treated as rent. | 1 month's rent; cannot be raised later. Refundable pet or key fees count toward the cap. |
| British Columbia | We found no advance-rent rule beyond the deposit caps. A security deposit can be taken only when the agreement is made. | Half a month's rent for the security deposit, plus up to half a month for a pet damage deposit; one month in total. |
| Manitoba | A term making rent payable before the stated payment date is void. The deposit can serve as last month's rent only if the landlord agrees in writing. | Half of the first month's rent; a separate pet damage deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed. |
| Saskatchewan | Banned: a landlord cannot demand or collect money to be used to pay rent that becomes due in the future. | 1 month's rent; no more than half at signing and the balance within 2 months after possession. |
| Ontario | A rent deposit (last month's rent) is allowed, capped at the lesser of one rental period and one month's rent. Other fees and deposits are banned, except a refundable key deposit. | No separate security deposit; only the rent deposit and a refundable key deposit are allowed. |
| New Brunswick | Prepaying the last month's rent is not allowed, nor is a single payment larger than the regular ones. | 1 week's rent for week-to-week, otherwise 1 month's rent. |
| Nova Scotia | Money taken beyond rent is treated as a security deposit, including money taken before the lease or before rent is due. | Half a month's rent. |
| Prince Edward Island | Only one deposit is allowed and only when the agreement is made; other deposits are barred. | 1 month's rent (1 week if rent is weekly). |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Prepaying the last week's or month's rent is banned, as is a single payment larger than the regular one. | 3/4 of a month's rent (2 weeks for week-to-week). |
If a landlord asks for too much (SQRFT advice)
- Ask what the money is for, in writing, and check it against the table above and your lease.
- Do not pay an amount the law bans. If a deposit was over the cap, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador let a tenant deduct the overpayment from rent, and in New Brunswick money accepted in breach of the advance-rent and deposit rules must be returned.
- Get a receipt that says what each payment covers: first month's rent, deposit or fee.
- Call the tenancy office if the landlord refuses to correct it. See how much a landlord can ask for as a deposit for the deposit limits in detail.
To use a deposit as your last month's rent, see can a tenant use the security deposit as rent.
Rent in advance in each province
Alberta
The security deposit is capped at one month's rent and cannot be raised later. Refundable pet or key fees count toward that cap, and a non-refundable pet fee is treated as rent. We found no Alberta rule that bans or limits asking for rent in advance beyond this cap.
If you think you were charged too much, the RTDRS or the Alberta Court of Justice can hear the dispute.
British Columbia
The security deposit is at most half a month's rent, and a pet damage deposit is at most another half month, so the total is at most one month. A security deposit can be taken only when the tenancy agreement is made. Application fees are banned and monthly pet fees are not allowed. We found no BC rule on collecting rent itself in advance.
If a deposit is over the cap, the tenant can deduct the overpayment from rent.
Manitoba
A term in the tenancy agreement making rent payable before the stated payment date is void. The security deposit is at most half of the first month's rent, and a separate pet damage deposit of up to one month's rent is allowed. The Residential Tenancies Branch says the deposit can be used as the last month's rent only if the landlord agrees in writing.
Saskatchewan
A landlord cannot demand, receive or collect an amount of money to be used to pay rent that becomes due in the future, so last month's rent in advance is not allowed. The security deposit is at most one month's rent, and the landlord can ask for no more than half at signing, with the balance within 2 months after you take possession.
If the landlord takes a deposit over the cap, the tenant may deduct the overpayment from rent.
Ontario
Ontario is the one province covered here where the only security deposit allowed is a rent deposit, in effect last month's rent. A landlord can require a rent deposit, capped at the lesser of one rental period's rent and one month's rent, and can ask for a top-up if the lawful rent rises. The only other deposit allowed is a refundable key deposit. The landlord must pay interest on the rent deposit.
Application fees and other fees are banned. The rent deposit is applied to the last rental period.
New Brunswick
A landlord cannot require a prepayment of the last month's rent or a single payment larger than the regular payments. The government says a landlord may ask for the first month's rent and a security deposit, but not for both the first month's rent and last month's rent. The deposit is at most one week's rent for week-to-week tenancies and one month's rent otherwise.
Amounts taken in breach of these rules must be returned.
New Brunswick security deposits | New Brunswick tenant rights
Nova Scotia
The security deposit is at most half a month's rent. Any money a landlord takes beyond rent is deemed a security deposit, and money taken before the lease is signed or before rent is due is treated as a security deposit too. Pet deposits and application fees are banned.
Prince Edward Island
Only one deposit is allowed, at most one month's rent (one week's if rent is weekly), and a landlord can require it only when the tenancy agreement is made. Other deposits are barred and application fees are banned. We found no PEI rule on collecting rent itself in advance.
If a deposit is over the cap, the tenant may deduct the overpayment from rent.
Newfoundland and Labrador
A landlord cannot require or accept a prepayment of the last week's or month's rent, or a single payment larger than the regular one. The security deposit is at most 3/4 of a month's rent (2 weeks for week-to-week), and separate pet deposits are not allowed. If a deposit is over the cap, a tenant may deduct the overpayment from rent.
Holding deposits taken before a rental agreement exists are not regulated by the Act.
Newfoundland and Labrador security deposits | Newfoundland and Labrador tenant rights
Related questions
Can landlords ask for last month's rent?
In Ontario, yes: a landlord can require a rent deposit for the last month, capped at one rental period. In New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador a landlord cannot require a prepayment of the last month's rent, and Saskatchewan bans collecting money for future rent. In Manitoba the deposit can serve as last month's rent only if the landlord agrees in writing.
Can a landlord charge rent in advance?
We found no rule against collecting the first rental period's rent when the tenancy starts, and New Brunswick's government page says a landlord may ask for it. Charging more in advance is limited: Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador ban it, and Manitoba voids a term that makes rent payable before the stated payment date. For Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island we found no rule on advance rent beyond the deposit caps.
Is it illegal for a landlord to ask for rent early?
It can be. A lease term making rent payable before the stated payment date is void in Manitoba, and collecting money for future rent is banned in Saskatchewan. In New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador a single payment larger than the regular one is not allowed. Elsewhere we found no rule, so hold your landlord to the due date in your lease.
Can a landlord ask you to pay rent early?
A landlord can ask, but you are generally only required to pay by the due date in your lease. You can pay early by choice. If the landlord insists on an earlier date, ask for the change in writing, and check whether your province voids or bans it, as Manitoba and Saskatchewan do. See when is rent due legally.
Can a landlord ask for first month's rent and a security deposit?
We found no rule that bars it in the provinces covered here, so the lease and the deposit cap decide. New Brunswick's government page says a landlord may ask for the first month's rent and a security deposit, but not for the first month's rent and last month's rent. Ontario has no separate security deposit, only the rent deposit and a refundable key deposit. See how much a landlord can ask for as a deposit.
What can I do if my landlord took more than the law allows?
Ask in writing for the extra amount back. If a deposit was over the cap, you may deduct the overpayment from rent in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, and in New Brunswick money accepted in breach of the advance-rent and deposit rules must be returned. If the landlord refuses, apply to the province's tenancy office or tribunal.
Can a landlord charge an application fee or a pet fee on top?
Application fees are banned in British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Monthly pet fees are not allowed in British Columbia, and in Alberta a non-refundable pet fee is treated as rent while refundable pet fees count toward the deposit cap. Separate pet deposits are not allowed in Newfoundland and Labrador or Nova Scotia.
Can a landlord keep a holding deposit?
Holding deposits are a separate question from advance rent. In Newfoundland and Labrador, deposits taken before a rental agreement exists are not regulated by the Act. See can a landlord keep a holding deposit for the details.
Can I use my security deposit as the last month's rent?
It depends on the province. In Manitoba the Branch says the tenant can use it for the last month's rent only if the landlord agrees in writing, and in Ontario the rent deposit is applied to the last rental period. See can a tenant use the security deposit as rent.
Government sources
- Alberta: Starting a tenancy
- Alberta: Residential Tenancies Act
- BC: Deposits and fees
- BC: Residential Tenancy Act
- Manitoba RTB: Security deposits
- Manitoba: The Residential Tenancies Act
- Saskatchewan: Security deposits
- Saskatchewan: The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Ontario: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Ontario: Renting in Ontario, your rights
- New Brunswick: Residential Tenancies Act
- New Brunswick: Security deposits
- New Brunswick: First-time renters
- Nova Scotia: Residential Tenancies Act
- PEI: Residential Tenancy Act
- PEI Rental Office: Security deposits FAQs
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Residential Tenancies Act, 2018
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Deposits, payment and fees policy
General information, not legal advice. Rules change; check your province's tenancy office before acting.
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