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In August 2016 the Residential Tenancies (Safer Spaces for Victims of Domestic Violence) Act was proclaimed. These changes allow victims of domestic violence to end a residential tenancy agreement early and without financial penalty.
- To do this, tenants must get a Certificate Confirming Grounds to Terminate Tenancy and use it to give at least 28 days' notice to their landlord.
- The tenant is still required to pay rent during the notice period.
- When a lease ends due to a certificate being issued, the tenancy agreement of everyone living with the victim will be terminated too.
- The victim is not responsible for telling other tenants that the tenancy is ending but can if they feel comfortable doing so. Otherwise, the landlord will be required to notify these tenants of the termination.
- The other tenants should consult the landlord if they wish to stay at the premises. The landlord may start a new lease with them but doesn’t have to.
- A landlord must ensure that any information received from or about a victim of domestic violence is kept confidential unless the landlord is authorized by the tenant (in writing) to disclose that information. For example:
- a landlord cannot talk to other tenants about the victim’s situation or why they’re moving out.
- a landlord may be required to disclose information in connection with an investigation or prosecution.
To learn more about the landlord responsibilities once they receive a certificate from a tenant, visit the website: https://www.alberta.ca/safer-spaces-certificate-landlords