Can I be evicted for renovations?

A landlord who needs the unit empty for major renovations must give 365 days' notice, and cannot raise the rent after giving that notice. "Major renovations" does not include painting, replacing floor coverings or routine maintenance. Demolition and several other listed reasons use the ordinary notice for a prescribed reason (3 tenancy months for a periodic tenancy), and the notice must state the reason.

If the landlord does not use the unit for the stated reason within a reasonable time, that is a breach of the Act and the landlord can be fined. In the research we found no rule giving an Alberta tenant compensation or a right to return. If you think the stated reason was not genuine, apply to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service or the Alberta Court of Justice.

For renovations or repairs there is no landlord notice. The landlord must apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for an order, and has to show four things: good faith with all permits in place, that the unit has to be empty, that the work is necessary to prolong or sustain the use of the unit, and that ending the tenancy is the only reasonable way. The order's effective date is at least 4 months after it is made. For demolition or conversion, the landlord serves a Four Month Notice and you have 30 days to dispute it.

You are owed one month's rent as compensation. On a Four Month Notice you can take it by withholding your last month's rent. If the landlord does not carry out the stated purpose, you can claim another 12 months' rent (after a renovation order, unless the landlord shows the work was done within a reasonable time). In buildings with 5 or more units, a tenant displaced by a renovation order has a right of first refusal on a new tenancy agreement if they give notice before moving out. You can leave on 10 days' notice once you have been served with a notice or an order.

A landlord can end a tenancy for demolition, renovation needing vacant possession, or a change of use, if the landlord acts in good faith. Demolition and a change to non-residential use must happen within 6 months after the tenancy ends. The notice period depends on the vacancy rate: 5 months if vacancy is under 2%, 4 months from 2% to 2.9%, and 3 months at 3% or higher. A tenant with a school-age child is protected from September 1 to June 30.

The landlord must pay moving expenses up to $500. If you ask in writing before you leave and keep your address up to date, you have a right of first refusal at the lowest rent charged, and a landlord who denies it can face an administrative penalty. If the stated purpose is not carried out, you can claim reasonable additional expenses, which may include increased rent for up to 12 months.

On a periodic tenancy the landlord gives 2 months' notice to demolish, renovate or repair if the work needs the unit empty and all permits are in place. You can dispute the notice in writing within 15 days, and if you do not, you are treated as accepting it. If you dispute, the landlord has to apply and prove its right. No tribunal approval is needed beforehand.

Your security deposit must be returned without deductions other than rent and utility arrears on a demolition or renovation notice. We found no right of first refusal in the research. If the unit is not used for the stated purpose for at least 6 months, you can claim for your losses, and the landlord can be fined. You can leave on 10 days' notice after being served.

A landlord gives an N13 notice for demolition, conversion, repairs or renovations, with at least 120 days' notice. You do not have to leave because of the notice alone: the Landlord and Tenant Board has to order the eviction, and it looks at good faith and at permits (or reasonable steps to get them). Compensation has to be paid by the termination date. In a building with 5 or more units it is 3 months' rent or another acceptable unit; with fewer than 5 units it is one month's rent. If you tell the landlord you will return after renovations, it is instead the rent for the lesser of that period (3 months, or one month in a building with fewer than 5 units) and the time the unit is under renovation.

You have a right to move back at no more than the lawful rent. The landlord must give written notice of the estimated ready date, and at least 60 days after the unit is ready for you to move back (units ready on or after September 21, 2026). If the landlord acted in bad faith, you can apply to the Board within 1 year, and remedies include up to 12 months' rent plus the rent difference for a year and moving costs. You do not have to sign an N11.

Renovations need a residential tenancies officer's prior written approval before the landlord can serve notice, and the officer applies set conditions. Serving notice without that approval is an offence. Demolition and sale are not among the listed reasons for ending a tenancy that we found. The notice period is the ordinary one for the type of tenancy, for example one month before the end of a month for month-to-month.

You can ask for a review within 15 days, and without one the notice is treated as accepted. If the stated reason is not followed within 2 months, you can claim compensation within 2 years, with no fixed amount. We found no right of first refusal in the research.

Nova Scotia has no general no-fault notice. For demolition or major renovation, the landlord needs either your agreement or a Director's order for vacant possession, with the end date set between 3 and 12 months after the order. The renovation must need a building permit and vacant possession, and the landlord must act in good faith.

Compensation is rent-free occupancy: if you stay to the end date you owe no rent for the last month in a building with 4 or fewer units, or the last 3 months in a building with more than 4. No compensation is owed if you accept another acceptable unit on the same terms. The Director can add moving expenses and other amounts if the landlord fails to follow through. You can leave on 10 days' notice. We found no right of first refusal in the research.

For renovations, the landlord needs the Director's approval first and then gives notice of at least 6 months (12 months for a mobile home owner). For demolition or conversion, the notice is 6 months. You can dispute within one month.

You are owed one month's rent plus reasonable moving expenses (the lesser of actual cost or one month's rent), or another acceptable unit. For a renovation with return, it is the lesser of one month's rent and the renovation period, plus moving costs. Renovation evictions carry a right of first refusal, and a landlord who breaches it owes 3 months' rent plus moving costs. A bad-faith application can be made within 1 year, and administrative penalties go up to $10,000. You can leave on 10 days' notice.

For a single unit we found no landlord ground for renovation, own use or sale. A landlord can give the ordinary notice with no reason: 3 months before the end of a monthly rental period, or 3 months before the end of a fixed term. This is a different rule from renovation evictions in other provinces, and it applies whether or not renovations are planned.

In a complex of more than 9 units, a group termination for renovation or demolition needs 6 months' notice, and the permit must exist first. The director can lengthen or shorten the 6 months for undue hardship. You can leave on 10 days' notice, and the landlord must keep the same rent if re-renting. We found no right to move back and no compensation in the research.