There is usually what is called a “fixed lease term” at the start of a renter’s tenancy period. But when the lease term comes to an end, what happens? There are different answers to this questions, depending on which province or territory the rental property is in.
In Alberta, for example, the lease term is sometimes changed from a fixed term to a month-to-month type tenancy after the fixed term has come to an end. After the initial fixed term is over, a new month-to-month tenancy has started, meaning that the tenant is not obligated to stay for more than a month at a time. Even tenants that rent an apartment or some other type of property month-to-month still have rights and are protected from eviction under the landlord tenant laws for their respective province.
In Alberta, for example, the tenant has to give a full month’s written notice before ending a month-to-month tenancy. If the rent cheque you give to your landlord is accepted, you will always want to make sure to get a receipt with the address of the apartment as well as the name of the landlord and all of their contact information, including phone number. You should also make sure to get the name of the person who accepted the cheque on the receipt.
For more information on lease renewal terms for your province or territory, refer to the Provincial and Territorial Fact Sheets.