How to Get Your Security or Damage Deposit Back After Moving Out in Canada

How long after moving out should you get your deposit back?

There is no single Canada-wide security or damage deposit return deadline. Residential tenancy law is mainly provincial or territorial, so the deadline depends on where the rental unit is located and, in some provinces, on steps you must take after moving out.

For example, if you are getting your damage deposit back after moving out of a Vancouver condo covered by British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act, the landlord generally has 15 days after the later of the tenancy ending and receiving your forwarding address in writing to return the security and pet damage deposits with applicable interest or apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for dispute resolution.

Do not assume that a deadline from another province applies to your tenancy. Alberta generally uses 10 days, Saskatchewan requires a landlord who wants to claim against a deposit to act within 7 business days, Manitoba generally uses 14 days for an undisputed deposit, and other provinces and territories have their own rules.

Getting your damage deposit back after moving out of a Vancouver condo

For most residential tenancies in Vancouver that fall under British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act, the same provincial security-deposit rules apply whether the rental unit is a condo, apartment or another covered type of residential rental.

When you move out, leave the rental unit reasonably clean and undamaged except for reasonable wear and tear, return the keys or other means of access, participate in the required condition inspection process and give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.

The 15-day period starts on the later of the date the tenancy ends and the date the landlord receives your forwarding address in writing. During that period, the landlord must generally return the deposit with applicable interest or apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch to claim against it. The landlord may also retain an amount if you agree in writing or where another statutory basis permits retention.

If the landlord does not comply with the deposit-return requirements, the Residential Tenancy Act can require the landlord to pay double the amount of the deposit. However, exceptions apply, including circumstances where a tenant's right to the deposit has been extinguished because of failure to participate in required condition inspections.

Do not delay providing your forwarding address. Under the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act, if a tenant does not provide a forwarding address in writing within one year after the tenancy ends, the landlord may keep the deposit and the tenant's right to its return is extinguished.

Security deposit return deadlines by province and territory

British Columbia

The landlord generally has 15 days after the later of the tenancy ending and receiving the tenant's forwarding address in writing to return the security and pet damage deposits with applicable interest or apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for dispute resolution.

A tenant should participate in the required move-in and move-out condition inspections. Failure to participate in certain required inspections can extinguish the tenant's right to the return of a deposit.

Alberta

If there are no lawful deductions, the landlord must generally return the security deposit with applicable interest within 10 days after the tenant gives up possession.

If the tenant does not receive the deposit, a statement of account or an estimated statement within 10 days after leaving, Alberta advises the tenant to write to the landlord and keep a copy. If the matter remains unresolved, the tenant can pursue the deposit through the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service or court.

Saskatchewan

A landlord who wants to claim all or part of a security deposit must make the claim through the Office of Residential Tenancies within 7 business days of the tenancy ending, unless the parties have reached the applicable written agreement.

A tenant can dispute the landlord's claim or apply when the landlord has not returned the deposit through the ORT online portal. The tenant's security-deposit application must be made within 60 days of the tenancy end date. The current non-refundable filing fee is $50, subject to the Fee Waiver Act.

Manitoba

If the landlord has no claim against the deposit, the security deposit and prescribed interest must generally be returned within 14 days after the tenancy ends.

If the landlord wants to claim against the deposit and the tenant does not agree in writing, the landlord must follow the Residential Tenancies Act process, including giving the required notice and dealing with the disputed and undisputed portions within the statutory time limits.

Ontario

Ontario differs from provinces that routinely permit damage deposits. The province's standard lease guidance states that a rent deposit cannot be used as a damage deposit. Ontario law regulates additional charges and permits a tenant or former tenant to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for money collected or retained contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act.

If the issue is an amount that was illegally collected or retained, the appropriate Ontario remedy is therefore different from a standard security-deposit return claim in provinces such as British Columbia.

Quebec

Quebec landlords cannot require additional amounts in the form of a security deposit or key deposit. The Tribunal administratif du logement states that a lease clause requiring such an additional charge is invalid and a lessee can apply to the Tribunal to have their rights respected.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick uses a distinctive deposit system. A landlord who collects a security deposit must submit it to the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office within 15 days. Tenants can also pay a security deposit directly to a Service New Brunswick centre.

After moving out, the tenant can apply for return of the security deposit, including through the province's online service. New Brunswick recommends applying as soon as possible. A landlord who wants to make a claim against the deposit must do so within 7 days from the end of the tenancy.

Nova Scotia

The security deposit and applicable interest must generally be returned within 10 days after the end of the tenancy. If the tenant does not consent in writing to a deduction and the landlord wants to keep some or all of the deposit for unpaid rent or damage, the landlord must use the prescribed claim process within the 10-day period.

A tenant who has not received the deposit or the landlord's security-deposit claim within the applicable period can use Nova Scotia's tenant security-deposit return process.

Prince Edward Island

Under Prince Edward Island's Residential Tenancy Act, the landlord generally has 15 days after the tenancy ends or is assigned to return the security deposit with applicable interest or apply to the Director claiming against it.

The Act also provides consequences for a landlord who fails to comply with the return requirements: the landlord cannot make a claim against the deposit and must pay the tenant double the amount of the security deposit.

Newfoundland and Labrador

The landlord must generally return the security deposit within 10 days after the tenant vacates, unless the landlord has a claim for all or part of it. If the landlord and tenant disagree, either party can apply to the Director to determine how the deposit should be distributed.

Yukon

Yukon's new Residential Tenancies Act has been in effect since September 1, 2025. A landlord must repay the security deposit with interest within 15 days after the later of the tenancy ending and receiving the tenant's forwarding address or e-transfer information in writing.

If the landlord and tenant agree in writing, some or all of the deposit can be withheld. Otherwise, the landlord can apply to the Residential Tenancies Office for dispute resolution.

Northwest Territories

A landlord who holds a security deposit or pet security deposit must generally return it and provide an itemized statement within 10 days after the tenant vacates or abandons the rental premises.

If the landlord intends to withhold an amount, written notice and the applicable itemized information are required, and the balance must be returned subject to the Residential Tenancies Act. For covered tenancies, failure to complete required entry and exit inspection reports can restrict a landlord's ability to retain a deposit for damage repairs.

Nunavut

Nunavut's Residential Tenancies Act generally requires a landlord to return the security deposit with interest and provide an itemized statement within 10 days after the tenant vacates or abandons the rental premises.

If the landlord claims for damage or rent arrears, the landlord must follow the statutory notice and accounting process. Where repair costs cannot yet be determined, the Act provides for an estimated itemized statement within 10 days and a later final accounting.

What evidence should you keep before and after moving out?

Keep evidence showing both the money you paid and the condition of the rental unit. Useful records include your tenancy agreement, deposit receipt, move-in and move-out condition inspection reports, photographs or videos, written communications and proof that you returned the keys.

Where the jurisdiction requires a forwarding address or other contact information to trigger the deposit-return process, keep proof of when and how you provided it. This is especially important in British Columbia and Yukon because the deposit deadline depends on the landlord receiving the required information in writing.

At move-out, photograph the unit after your belongings have been removed and cleaning is complete. Keep original files and copies of inspection reports. If you disagree with a landlord's description of damage, document the disagreement.

Can a landlord keep a deposit for normal wear and tear?

Tenancy laws commonly distinguish damage caused by a tenant from ordinary deterioration through reasonable use. The exact test and terminology vary by jurisdiction.

For example, British Columbia requires a tenant leaving a rental unit to leave it reasonably clean and undamaged except for reasonable wear and tear. Nova Scotia's official ending-a-tenancy guidance similarly states that expected wear and tear cannot be claimed as damage against the security deposit.

Move-in and move-out photographs and condition reports can be critical when the landlord and tenant disagree about whether a condition is new damage or ordinary wear.

What if the landlord wants to keep part of your deposit?

Ask for the amount being withheld and the reason for each deduction. The landlord's ability to keep money depends on the law in the province or territory and may require your written agreement, an official claim, an order or prescribed notice and accounting.

Do not assume that a clause saying the landlord automatically keeps the deposit at move-out is enforceable. For example, Saskatchewan expressly states that a tenancy agreement cannot require the landlord to automatically keep all or part of the security deposit at the end of the tenancy.

If you agree to a deduction, keep the agreement in writing. If you disagree, use the dispute process for the jurisdiction where the rental unit is located.

What should you do if the landlord does not return the deposit?

1. Identify the province or territory where the rental property is located.
2. Check whether the legal return period has expired and whether you needed to provide a forwarding address or complete another step first.
3. Keep your tenancy agreement, deposit receipt, inspection reports, photographs, communications and proof of moving out and returning keys.
4. Send the landlord a written request for the deposit if it has not been returned, and keep proof of delivery.
5. Ask for an itemized explanation and supporting evidence for any deductions.
6. If the issue remains unresolved, apply to the residential tenancy authority or dispute-resolution body for that province or territory within any applicable filing deadline.

There is no single federal security-deposit application. The responsible body can be a Residential Tenancy Branch, Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service, Office of Residential Tenancies, Residential Tenancies Branch, Landlord and Tenant Board, Tribunal administratif du logement, Tenant and Landlord Relations Office, Residential Tenancies Office, Residential Tenancies Office or Rental Officer, depending on the jurisdiction.

Can you apply online to recover a security deposit?

Yes, in several jurisdictions, but there is no Canada-wide portal. British Columbia provides online Residential Tenancy Branch dispute-resolution services. Saskatchewan's Office of Residential Tenancies accepts security-deposit disputes through its online portal. New Brunswick allows tenants to apply online for return of a deposit held through its provincial system, and Nova Scotia provides online security-deposit processes.

Use only the authority for the province or territory where the rental unit was located because another province's form, deadline or tribunal cannot be substituted for your local process.

What happens after you file a deposit dispute?

The process depends on the jurisdiction. The tenancy authority may review documents, obtain a response from the landlord, schedule a hearing or decide the claim under its statutory procedure.

Submit evidence relevant to the deposit dispute, such as the tenancy agreement, proof of deposit payment, condition inspection reports, photographs, videos, communications, proof of your forwarding address where relevant and the landlord's itemized claim.

An order in your favour does not always result in automatic collection. If the landlord does not comply, the jurisdiction may require the order to be filed or enforced through a court or another enforcement procedure.

Why does your province or territory matter?

A search for how long after moving out you should get your deposit can produce different answers because Canadian residential tenancy rules genuinely differ by jurisdiction. A British Columbia tenant should not use Alberta's 10-day rule, and an Ontario or Quebec tenant should not assume that the damage-deposit systems used elsewhere apply.

Start with the location of the rental unit, then check the current official tenancy rules, deadline and dispute process for that jurisdiction.