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Alberta Rental Q&A

How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Alberta?

Quick Answer

A landlord in Alberta can charge a maximum security deposit equal to one month's rent. The deposit must be placed in an interest-bearing trust account within two business days, and the interest belongs to the tenant.

VG
By Vishnu Gabbula · May 1, 2026

Alberta has one of the strictest security-deposit caps in Canada. Section 44 of the Residential Tenancies Act limits the deposit to one month's rent, no matter the property type, pet status, or tenant credit profile.

Key Facts

  • Maximum security deposit: 1 month's rent (RTA s. 44).
  • Deposit must be held in an interest-bearing trust account within 2 business days.
  • The 2024 Alberta security deposit interest rate is 0.10% per year (set annually by regulation).
  • Landlords must return the deposit within 10 days of tenancy end if no deductions, or with a statement within 30 days if deductions apply.

Can a landlord charge an extra "pet deposit" in Alberta?

No. Alberta does not allow separate pet deposits on top of the security deposit. The combined deposit, regardless of label, cannot exceed one month's rent. This is different from Ontario and British Columbia, where rules vary.

What can the security deposit be used for?

  • Unpaid rent.
  • Cost of repairing damage beyond normal wear and tear.
  • Cost of cleaning if the unit is left in a state worse than at move-in.
  • Unpaid utility bills, if utilities were the tenant's responsibility.

When must the deposit be returned?

If there are no deductions, the full deposit plus accrued interest must be returned within 10 days of the tenancy ending. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide an itemised statement and the balance within 30 days. Failure to do so can trigger an RTDRS order and additional damages.

Move-in and move-out inspections

Section 19 of the RTA requires a written move-in inspection report within one week of the tenant taking possession, and a matching move-out report within one week of the tenant vacating. If the landlord skips either inspection, they lose the right to make deductions from the deposit, a costly mistake that comes up repeatedly in Calgary RTDRS rulings.

Sources: Service Alberta, Residential Tenancies Act; Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS); CMHC Rental Market Report. This article is general information, not legal advice.
VG
Vishnu Gabbula, Associate Broker at PREP Realty

Vishnu Gabbula is an Associate Broker at PREP Realty, a RECA-licensed Alberta brokerage, and the founder of UrbanLease (a Calgary property management website operated by 14463137 Canada Inc.). His practice covers residential real estate, commercial real estate, rural properties, and property management across Calgary, Alberta. He runs Calgary House Rentals Group (105,000+ members) and Edmonton House Rentals Group (65,000+ members), two of Western Canada's largest rental communities on Facebook. He writes on Alberta tenancy law, the Residential Tenancies Act, CMHC MLI Select multi-unit financing, tenant screening, and rental market data, built on day-to-day experience managing rentals across Calgary and surrounding cities.

Published May 1, 2026 · Updated May 15, 2026

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