Selling a Rented Property in Newfoundland and Labrador

When you sell a rented home, the tenant stays. Government policy says the buyer, as successor in title, becomes the new landlord, and the existing rental agreement, written or verbal, carries on as if nothing changed. The landlord FAQ adds one caution: a foreclosure may be an exception.

The same policy on landlords and tenants points out that once you sell, you lose your authority to permit anyone to occupy the premises. The buyer takes that role. The Residential Tenancies Act, 2018 also defines "landlord" to include heirs, assigns and personal representatives, so a landlord's death does not end a tenancy either.

For the general rules on ending a tenancy, see the landlord guide to notice to end a tenancy.

Government policy states that a new landlord must assume all the responsibilities of the current landlord and must follow the same terms and conditions of the tenancy. That covers the rent amount, the lease term and the repair duties. It also covers the security deposit: the landlord FAQ says the new owner will be responsible for it.

Rent is where sellers and buyers often go wrong. The Act bars a rent increase more than once in a 12 month period, and for month to month or fixed term tenancies it requires 6 months' written notice. Because the buyer keeps the same terms, a sale on its own should not let the buyer raise the rent sooner than you could have. No government page says this about new owners in exactly these words, so treat it as the sensible reading and confirm with the Residential Tenancies Office. See raising rent in Newfoundland for the increase rules.

1. Tell the buyer the facts. Hand over a copy of the rental agreement, the rent amount and due date, the length of the term, and details of the security deposit and interest.
2. Keep showings lawful. Use the entry rules in the showings section below.
3. Close the sale. The buyer then becomes the landlord and takes the agreement as it stands.
4. New landlord gives written notice. Under the Act the new landlord must immediately give the tenant a written notice with its name, its address for service, and the security deposit and interest held.
5. Deposit stays in place. The buyer answers for it. When the tenancy later ends, the landlord must return the deposit within 10 days after the tenant vacates unless there is a claim against it. See the Newfoundland security deposit rules.

No separate form for this notice is named in the government material used here. Check the Residential Tenancies page for the current forms.

There is no buyer's-own-use notice or form in the Newfoundland and Labrador Act for a single unit. The Act has no landlord-own-use or sale ground. The usual no-fault notice is the way to end a tenancy when no one has done anything wrong:

• Month to month: at least 3 months' notice, ending on the last day of a rental period.
• Fixed term: at least 3 months' notice before the end of the term. It cannot be used to end the term early.
• Week to week: at least 4 weeks' notice.

No reason is required. The notice must be signed and given no later than the first day of a rental period. The government form is the Landlord's Notice to Terminate - Standard. A sale does not allow the new landlord to give shorter notice. No tenant compensation was found for a single unit.

Larger buildings have extra limits. In a complex of more than 9 units, a landlord cannot give notice for 50 percent or more of the units within 3 months, with limited exceptions such as demolition. Read section 28 of the Act if that applies to you.

Without a termination notice, showings to buyers need the usual entry notice: written notice of the time at least 24 hours ahead, at a reasonable time. The notice to enter policy says the notice should give the date, a reasonable time of day and the reason for entry.

Once either side has given a termination notice, you may show the unit to prospective buyers at a reasonable time after making a reasonable effort to give at least 4 hours' notice. The Act says only "notice" here, and two government policies disagree on whether it must be written. Giving it in writing avoids the argument. The sale of rental premises policy covers this. Read landlord entry in Newfoundland and whether landlords may enter for the full picture.

• End the tenancy early just because you sold.
• Pass shorter notice to the tenant through the buyer.
• Change the locks to push a tenant out. Neither side may change locks during the tenancy without mutual consent.
• Threaten or end a tenancy in retaliation for a complaint or an application the tenant made.

If the tenant refuses to leave after a valid notice, the landlord applies to the Residential Tenancies Office for an order of possession. The filing fee was $20 in April 2026, so check the official page for the current fee. See what to do if a tenant refuses to move out.

This guide explains the rules in general terms; for a specific case, ask the tribunal or a licensed legal professional.