Renting out property in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan has no rent cap, but it has long notice rules for month-to-month tenancies: 12 months' notice of a rent increase for most landlords, or six months for members of a prescribed landlord association. Security deposits, including any pet deposit, are capped at one month's rent in total and held in trust. The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) handles notices, deposit claims and hearings through its online portal.
Rent increases
- Rent control
- No rent control: no limit on the amount of an increase
- How often
- Month-to-month: no increase in the first 18 months of the tenancy, then once every 12 months. Members of the Saskatchewan Landlord Association or the Network of Non-Profit Housing Providers: after the first 12 months, then once every six months.
- Written notice
- Month-to-month: 12 months' written notice (six months for prescribed association members) on the ORT form. Fixed-term: serve the Two Month Notice of Intention at least two months before the end date; the tenant has 30 days to accept in writing or move out.
Security deposits
- Maximum
- One month's rent in total, including any pet, key or other deposits. At signing you may collect at most 50%; the rest is due within two months after the tenant moves in.
- Who holds it
- The landlord, in trust: in a trust account at a bank, trust company or credit union, or invested in securities authorized under The Trustee Act, 2009
- Interest
- Payable only for tenancies longer than five years, accruing up to 30 days after the tenancy ends
- Returning it
- Within seven business days after the tenancy ends, return the deposit or file a claim through the ORT portal and serve it on all tenants. A lease cannot let you keep part of the deposit automatically. Tenants can dispute a claim within 60 days.
- Pet deposits
- Allowed, but it counts toward the one-month total for all deposits
Other essentials in Saskatchewan
- Entry: 24 hours' to seven days' written notice stating the purpose, date and a window of no more than four hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. No notice is needed in an emergency, with permission, or if the unit appears abandoned.
- Showings: at least two hours' notice to prospective tenants once notice to end has been given (or a fixed term ends within two months), and 24 hours for buyers; both between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on Sunday or the tenant's day of worship.
- Standard conditions: the prescribed standard conditions are part of every tenancy agreement, whatever the lease says.
- Ending a periodic tenancy: two months' notice for owner occupancy, one month for a purchaser's occupancy. An immediate notice can be served once rent is 15 days in arrears.
- ORT forms for notices of entry, rent increases and termination are available through the ORT online portal.
How Propvara helps SK landlords
- Track each deposit, including any pet portion, with its trust account reference in tenancies and deposits, with alerts for deposits that have no holder recorded.
- Rent change history with effective dates shows the 18- and 12-month clocks. Province-aware rent increase checks and notices will handle the 12-month notice rule.Coming soon
- Timestamped photos and history on every repair case support a deposit claim filed within seven business days.
- A lender-ready rent roll and an operating statement mapped to CRA T776 lines.
Saskatchewan landlord questions
How much notice do I need to raise rent on a month-to-month tenancy?
12 months' written notice, and not in the first 18 months. Members of a prescribed landlord association need six months' notice and can increase after the first 12 months, then every six months.
Can I charge a pet deposit in Saskatchewan?
Yes, but all deposits together, pet deposit included, cannot exceed one month's rent.
When must I deal with the deposit after move-out?
Within seven business days: return it or file a claim through the ORT portal and serve it on all tenants.
Do I pay interest on deposits?
Only if the tenancy lasts more than five years.
Official sources
- Saskatchewan: Rent increases
- Saskatchewan: Security deposits
- Saskatchewan: Landlord's rights on entering a property
- Saskatchewan: Giving notice to end a tenancy
- PLEA: Security deposits
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) or a lawyer before acting.
Related reading
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