Created page with "{{DEMOWARNING}} {{Tenant Survival Guide TOC}} '''Do''' participate in a move-in and a move-out inspection, or else risk losing your deposit. '''Don’t''' pay a deposit for a..."
'''Do''' participate in a move-in and a move-out inspection, or else risk losing your deposit. '''Don’t''' pay a deposit for a place you are not sure you want, or you may lose your deposit.
A landlord can ask you for a security deposit (also called a damage deposit) to cover the costs of damage to the unit or property, or unpaid rent or utilities. The landlord can also ask for a pet damage deposit and deposits for extras like keys or garage door openers. Your landlord can only ask for a security deposit when you first agree to rent the place. You must pay the full security deposit within 30 days after you move in or you can be evicted. See Sections 20 and 47 of the [[Residential Tenancy Act|RTA]]
===Amount of security deposit===
The most a landlord can ask you to pay for a security deposit is a half month’s rent. The landlord cannot ask for an extra
deposit if the rent goes up. If the landlord collects more than one half month’s rent as a security deposit, the law allows
the tenant to deduct the overpayment from rent, or otherwise recover the overpayment. Make sure you let the landlord know why you are deducting the overpayment.
===Pet damage deposit===
A landlord can ask for an additional half month’s rent as a pet damage deposit. The landlord can ask you for this when you move in with your pet or when you get a pet. You only have to pay one pet damage deposit. The landlord cannot ask you to pay extra deposits if you have more than one pet. If the landlord collects more than one half month’s rent as a pet damage deposit, the law allows the tenant to deduct the overpayment from rent, or otherwise recover the overpayment.
Latest revision as of 19:31, 1 April 2026
Cover image for Tenant Survival Guide
This Clicklaw Wikibooks page has been retired.
This page was part of the former Tenant Survival Guide on Clicklaw Wikibooks. TRAC is no longer maintaining this Wikibooks version.
