What can I do if my landlord wants me to buy the house I rent?
Last updated: October 13, 2026
Short answer
You do not have to buy the house you rent, and saying no does not end your tenancy. Your lease or periodic tenancy carries on on the same terms, and a landlord can end it only by serving a valid notice for a reason the law allows. If you do want to buy, get the offer and any rent-to-own or lease-option terms in writing and reviewed by a lawyer before you sign. If the landlord sells to someone else instead, the tenancy continues with the new owner.
You do not have to buy, and refusing does not end your tenancy
A landlord can offer to sell you the home, and you can say no. A refusal is not a ground for ending a tenancy in the provinces covered here. A landlord who wants you out has to use one of the allowed reasons, with the notice period and any approval that goes with it. For sales, that is a purchaser's-use notice, which only works where the buyer or the buyer's family will move in, and which has its own notice period and conditions. See what to do if your landlord is selling the house and how much notice a landlord has to give.
Pressure, repeated offers or a threat to evict you for not buying do not change that. SQRFT advice (not law): reply in writing that you are not interested, keep paying rent on time, and keep a copy of everything. If the pressure continues, contact the tenancy office in your province.
If you do want to buy
The research behind this page covers tenancy rules, not purchase contracts, so we do not give figures or legal tests for rent-to-own, lease-option or lease-to-own deals. These are contracts: the terms, any extra payment up front, and what happens to your rent payments if you do not buy are whatever the contract says. SQRFT advice (not law):
- Get the offer, the price, the date you have to decide and any credit for rent in writing.
- Have a lawyer review it before you sign anything or pay an option fee.
- Compare it with buying through a regular mortgage. Ask a mortgage professional what you would qualify for.
- Keep paying rent under the existing tenancy while you decide.
If you buy a different home, your tenancy does not end automatically. See how to get out of a lease agreement for the ways out of a fixed term and the notice for a periodic tenancy.
If the landlord sells to someone else
A sale on its own does not end your tenancy in any province covered here. The new owner steps into the landlord's position, and your deposit and your terms go with the tenancy. The table shows what the research found.
| Province | Does the tenancy continue? | When can a buyer end it? |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Yes; the new owner is bound by the deposit | Prescribed reasons only, including a sale where the buyer or a relative will move in (3 tenancy months for a periodic tenancy) |
| British Columbia | Yes; a sale is not a way a tenancy ends | Purchaser's-use notice, 3 months |
| Manitoba | Yes; all obligations bind the new landlord | Purchaser will occupy: 1 month if vacancy is 3% or higher, 3 months if under 3%; fixed term only at its end |
| Saskatchewan | Yes; same rights and duties | Sale ground, 1 month's notice on a periodic tenancy |
| Ontario | Yes | Purchaser's N12, at least 60 days, ending on the last day of a period or term |
| New Brunswick | Yes; the buyer assumes all obligations | Sale is not a listed reason |
| Nova Scotia | Yes; the deposit transfers | Building of 4 or fewer units, buyer or family moving in, at least 2 months |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes | Limited cases: under 3 units or a condo unit, signed agreement and affidavit; 2 months (buyer) or 4 months (family) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes; a foreclosure may be an exception | A sale does not allow shorter notice |
What a sale means for you in each province
Alberta
A sale does not end the tenancy, and the new owner is bound by the security deposit. A fixed term of a year or more cannot be increased during the term. A landlord can end a tenancy on a prescribed reason with 3 tenancy months' notice (periodic tenancy), including a sale where the buyer or a relative will move in, and the notice has to state the reason.
If you are not interested in buying, you are not required to, and your tenancy continues on its terms.
British Columbia
A sale is not a way a tenancy ends, and the buyer is the successor in title. The 12-month rent increase rule runs even if there is a new landlord, and the deposit obligations run with the land. The only route for a buyer to end a tenancy is a purchaser's-use notice, 3 months, with the right to dispute it within 21 days. A landlord's-use notice cannot take effect before the end of a fixed term.
A foreclosure court order is not enforceable against a tenant who was not a party to it.
Manitoba
The tenancy continues and all obligations bind the new landlord, who is also liable for deposits and interest. The new landlord must give written notice in the prescribed form, and you can keep paying the old landlord until then. The 12-month rent rule attaches to the rent charged, so a sale does not restart it.
A purchaser who will occupy the unit can end a periodic tenancy with 1 month's notice if the vacancy rate is 3% or higher and 3 months if it is under 3%. A fixed term needs 3 months' notice and cannot end before the end of the term. Manitoba also protects tenants with a school-age child from September 1 to June 30.
Saskatchewan
A new landlord has the same rights and duties for all existing agreements and deposits, and the former landlord has to hand over agreements and deposits. A hearing officer can keep the old landlord liable.
A purchaser who will live there, or whose family will, can end a periodic tenancy with 1 month's notice. You can dispute a notice in writing within 15 days.
Ontario
A tenancy ends only as the Act allows, so a sale does not end it. The 12-month rule counts from the last increase for you, with 90 days' notice, and a new landlord cannot demand a new rent deposit if one was already paid. A purchaser who wants the unit can serve an N12, with at least 60 days' notice ending on the last day of a rental period or term.
The notice alone does not evict you: the Landlord and Tenant Board has to order it, and you do not have to sign anything to agree to leave.
New Brunswick
The buyer assumes all tenancy obligations and is a landlord for all purposes. The seller must notify the residential tenancies officer and you in writing within 7 days. Lease terms stay the same no matter who owns the property. A sale is not a listed reason to end a tenancy.
The reasons that are listed include occupation by the landlord, a spouse, child, parent or spouse's parent for at least 3 consecutive months in good faith.
Nova Scotia
The deposit transfers to the new landlord. A sale is a ground for ending a tenancy only when the building has 4 or fewer units, the buyer or a family member is moving in, and at least 2 months' notice is given on the prescribed form. A foreclosure lets the tenant stay until the earlier of 3 months after a notice to quit or the end of the lease.
For a fixed term, the landlord's notice has to match the end of the term.
Prince Edward Island
The tenancy continues, rent obligations run with the unit and deposit obligations pass to the new owner. The new landlord must give written notice of its name and the deposit held. The 12-month increase rule is unchanged. A sale is a ground only in limited cases: a building of under 3 units or a condo unit, a signed agreement and an affidavit, with 2 months' notice for a buyer and 4 months for a family member.
A foreclosure order is not enforceable against a tenant who was not a party to it.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The rental agreement continues as if there had been no change of ownership, and the new owner is responsible for the deposit. The new landlord must immediately give written notice of the change. A sale does not allow shorter notice, and a foreclosure may be an exception.
The ordinary notice with no reason is 3 months before the end of a monthly rental period, and it applies whether or not you were offered the house.
Newfoundland and Labrador notice rules | Newfoundland and Labrador tenant rights
Related questions
Do I have to buy the house I rent?
No. A landlord can offer to sell, but a tenant has no duty to accept, and your tenancy continues on its current terms. The landlord can end it only by serving a valid notice for a reason the law allows. See what to do if your landlord wants you to move out.
Can my landlord evict me if I do not buy?
Not for that reason alone. A refusal to buy is not a ground for ending a tenancy that we found in the provinces covered here. A landlord can still use a valid ground, such as a sale to a buyer who will move in, with the notice period that goes with it.
Can my tenant buy my house?
Yes, a landlord can offer to sell to a tenant, and a tenant who agrees buys it like any other buyer. The tenant can also decline, and that does not end the tenancy. If you are thinking of selling, see should I rent my house or sell it and what happens when a landlord sells.
What is a lease with option to buy contract?
It is generally a lease that also gives the tenant the right, but not the duty, to buy the home at a set price within a set time, usually for an extra fee. The terms are whatever the contract says, and the research behind this page does not cover them. Have a lawyer read it before you sign.
What is a lease to own?
The term is used for arrangements where rent payments may count toward a purchase. Because the details vary by contract, check in writing what happens to your payments if you do not buy, and whether you or the landlord is responsible for repairs and taxes. Get legal advice first.
Is it better to rent to own or get a mortgage?
We cannot say which is better for you, because it depends on the contract, the price and your finances. Ask a mortgage professional what you would qualify for and compare it with the rent-to-own terms line by line. See is it better to rent or buy a house.
Should I lease or buy?
Leasing keeps your upfront costs lower and lets you move with notice, while buying gives you ownership and responsibility for the property. The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay and what you can afford. See is it better to rent or buy a house for the comparison.
Can I break my lease if I buy a house?
Buying a house is not among the legal grounds to end a fixed-term lease early that we found in the Acts we reviewed, so plan on one of the usual routes: the landlord's written agreement, assigning or subletting where the lease allows, or giving proper notice at the end of the term. Tell the landlord early. See how to get out of a lease agreement.
How to get out of a lease when buying a house?
Time your closing date with your lease end if you can, or ask the landlord in writing for an early release, offering to help find a replacement. If you have a periodic tenancy, give the notice your province requires. See how many days' notice to give a landlord.
Why do people rent instead of buy?
Common reasons are lower upfront costs, flexibility to move, and no responsibility for major repairs. Others rent while saving for a down payment or because they do not plan to stay in one place. You can browse rentals on SQRFT if that fits your situation.
Government sources
- Government of Alberta: Ending a tenancy
- Government of BC: Landlord notice to end tenancy
- Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch: Giving notice, landlord use
- Ontario: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Government of New Brunswick: Buying and selling a rental property
- Government of New Brunswick: Residential Tenancies Act
- PEI Rental Office: FAQs
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Residential Tenancies Act, 2018
General information, not legal advice. Rules change; check your province's tenancy office before acting.
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