How to get your security deposit back in Canada, province by province
Quick summary
The best way to get your deposit back starts on move-in day: do a condition report and take photos. Deadlines depend on your province. In Manitoba a landlord must return it within 14 days if there are no problems, or send a written claim within 28 days. Compare deposit amounts in ourrenting in Canada guide.
Checked November 2, 2026. Main source: Government of Manitoba: Deposits fact sheet. See all 13 sources.
Protect your deposit from day one
- Get a receipt when you pay. In Manitoba it must show the amount, the date and the address of the unit.
- Do a move-in condition report with your landlord and write down every scratch, stain and dent. Both of you sign it and each keep a copy.
- Take dated photos of every room, including closets, appliances and floors.
- Pay rent in a way that leaves a record, and keep your lease.
- At move-out, do a second report with the landlord. Clean the unit and return it in its move-in condition. The federal agency says the unit should be left as it was when you moved in.
Sources: Government of Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch, What Manitoba tenants need to know and Condition reports fact sheet; Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, Renting an apartment or house. Checked November 2, 2026.
What a landlord can use a deposit for
In Manitoba, a security deposit can be used for unpaid rent, damage, or extraordinary cleaning caused by the tenant. A pet damage deposit covers extraordinary cleaning or damage caused by pets. Normal wear is not damage, and the move-out report lists only damage that was not there at move-in.
In Ontario the rent deposit is used as the last month's rent and cannot be used for damage.
Sources: Government of Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch, Deposits fact sheet and Condition reports fact sheet; Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board, Information for New Tenants. Checked November 2, 2026.
Return deadlines by province
| Province | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Manitoba | If there are no problems, the landlord must return deposits plus interest within 14 days after the tenancy ends. Any amount they claim must be explained in a written notice, sent within 28 days. Give your new address. |
| Ontario | The deposit is applied to your last month's rent. The landlord pays you interest each year. |
| British Columbia | Give your forwarding address in writing. You can give it up to one year after the tenancy ends. The landlord has 15 days after receiving it to return the deposit with interest, if there are no issues. A landlord can keep it only with your written consent or an order from the Residential Tenancy Branch. |
| Saskatchewan | Within 7 business days after the landlord knows you have moved out, the landlord must return the deposit with interest, or give you notice of the part they will keep. Any part kept is held in trust for 30 days from the end of the tenancy. You then have 60 days from the end of the tenancy to dispute the claim (The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, section 32, an unofficial copy that lists changes through 2024). |
| Alberta | The page we read did not state a return deadline. The landlord must hold the deposit in an interest-bearing trust account. Check the Residential Tenancies Act or call the Consumer Contact Centre. |
| Quebec | A landlord cannot require a deposit, so there is normally no deposit to get back (Éducaloi, page undated). If you paid one, ask the Tribunal administratif du logement. |
| Yukon | The landlord must return the deposit within 15 days (Yukon government page modified September 1, 2025). |
| Northwest Territories | The landlord must return the deposit within 10 days (Residential Tenancies Act, amendments to 2023). |
| Nunavut | Within 10 days after you move out, the landlord must return the deposit with interest and an itemized statement (Residential Tenancies Act, section 18, an unofficial copy current to June 24, 2012, so confirm with the Nunavut Rental Office). |
| Other provinces | We did not confirm return deadlines for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. Contact your tenancy office. |
Sources: Government of Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch; Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board; Province of British Columbia, Tenancy deposits and fees; Government of Saskatchewan, Security deposits; Government of Alberta, Starting a tenancy; Éducaloi; Government of Yukon; Government of the Northwest Territories; Government of Nunavut (unofficial copy). Checked November 3, 2026.
Interest on your deposit
Several provinces make landlords pay interest on deposits. In Manitoba the government sets the rate and the Residential Tenancies Branch publishes it. In British Columbia, the province lists the yearly rate, and it is 0% for 2026. Alberta also lists 0.0% for 2026. In Saskatchewan, interest is payable only on tenancies longer than 5 years.
Sources: Government of Manitoba; Province of British Columbia; Government of Alberta; Government of Saskatchewan. Checked November 2, 2026.
What to do if your deposit is kept
- Ask in writing for the reason and the amount. In Manitoba, any claim must be in a written notice.
- Send your new address in writing and keep a copy. In Manitoba the 14 and 28 day clocks depend on it.
- Gather your proof: the lease, receipt, both condition reports, photos and messages.
- Contact your province's tenancy office. In Manitoba call the Residential Tenancies Branch at 204-945-2476 or 1-800-782-8403.
- In British Columbia, if the landlord misses the 15 day deadline, you can file a direct request 20 days after the tenancy ends and you give your forwarding address. The landlord may be ordered to pay double the deposit.
- In Saskatchewan, dispute a claim within 60 days of the end of the tenancy.
Sources: Government of Manitoba; Province of British Columbia; Government of Saskatchewan. Checked November 2, 2026.
Where to go next
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a deposit in Manitoba?
Within 14 days after the tenancy ends if there are no problems, with interest. A claim for any part must be explained in a written notice within 28 days.
Can a landlord keep my deposit for normal wear?
In Manitoba, a security deposit can be used for unpaid rent, damage or extraordinary cleaning caused by the tenant. Check your province's rules for what counts.
What if I never did a move-in report?
In Manitoba a report is not required by law unless someone asks for one. Without it you rely on photos, messages and other proof, so start gathering them now.
Do I have to give my new address?
Yes, in writing. In Manitoba and British Columbia the deadlines depend on the landlord having your address.
Will the landlord pay me interest?
In Manitoba, yes, from the day they receive the deposit until they return it. In British Columbia and Alberta the 2026 yearly rate is 0%.