Core landlord rights under the RTA
- Right to collect rent on the agreed date and to charge late fees if specified in the lease.
- Right to enter the unit for inspections, repairs, or showings with 24 hours' written notice.
- Right to screen tenants based on credit, employment, references, and rental history.
- Right to a security deposit up to one month's rent.
- Right to deduct from the deposit for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
- Right to terminate the tenancy for non-payment, substantial breach, or end of term.
- Right to file at RTDRS to recover unpaid rent, damages, or possession.
What landlords cannot do
- Discriminate against tenants on Human-Rights-Act-protected grounds (including source of income).
- Charge a separate pet deposit on top of the security deposit.
- Change locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out (illegal self-help eviction).
- Raise rent more than once in a 365-day period.
- Enter without proper notice except in emergencies.
- Withhold the deposit without an itemised statement when deducting.
How professional management protects landlord rights
Most RTDRS rulings against landlords come down to documentation, missed inspection reports, verbal-only notices, or unsigned lease addenda. A professional property manager like UrbanLease maintains a paper trail on every interaction, which is what actually wins disputes when they happen.