Tenancy guide
Alberta: Rental Inspection and Deposit Rules
Alberta requires the landlord and tenant to inspect the unit within one week of move-in and within one week of move-out, and the landlord must give you a written report each time.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026
- Governing law
- Residential Tenancies Act
- Where disputes are heard
- Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service
Deposits
- A security deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent. The landlord must hold it in an interest-bearing trust account in Alberta.
- Within 10 days after you move out, the landlord must return your deposit, or return the balance with a statement of account showing what was deducted.
- No deduction can be made for normal wear and tear, and no deduction can be made for damage unless the move-in and move-out inspection reports were done as the Act requires.
Inspections and the unit’s condition
- The landlord and tenant must inspect the unit within one week before or after you move in, and within one week before or after you move out. The landlord must give you a report describing the unit’s condition right after each inspection.
- If the landlord proposes two inspection times on different days and no tenant agrees to take part, the landlord can complete the inspection without you.
Disputes
- If your deposit isn’t returned as required, you can recover it through the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service or the courts.
- Your dated photos help show the unit’s condition if you disagree with an inspection report or a deduction.
How LeaseWit helps
- Your LeaseWit report does not replace the landlord’s inspection reports. Take part in both inspections, and use LeaseWit to keep your own dated photos of every room.
- Compare move-in and move-out side by side to show what changed, and what didn’t.
- Keep a PDF report ready if you need to dispute a deduction.