Tenant screening built for Alberta landlords.
Alberta has no cap on rent increases, so a good tenant is worth even more over the life of a lease. Verified identity, background and watchlist checks, and their Equifax credit, ready in minutes from $19.99.
What Alberta law actually says about renting.
No rent control, a dedicated tribunal, and notice periods that swing from two weeks to a full year depending on why. Here's what applies to you as a private landlord, sourced directly.
Who hears disputes, and under what law
Alberta rental disputes can go to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS), a faster, lower-cost tribunal alternative to court for claims up to $100,000, including unpaid rent, security deposits, repairs, and termination. It operates under the Residential Tenancies Act. Claims RTDRS can't hear, or above that threshold, still go to Provincial Court or the Court of King's Bench.
Source: Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c R-17.1Security deposits are capped at one month
A security deposit is allowed, but it can't exceed one month's rent, and that cap doesn't rise even if rent is later increased. The deposit has to go into an interest-bearing trust account within 2 banking days of receipt.
Source: Service Alberta · Security DepositsNo rent control, but notice still applies
Alberta has no cap on how much rent can be raised, a major difference from Ontario and BC. The only constraints are procedural: at least 3 full months' written notice before an increase takes effect, only once per any 12-month period, and no change at all during a fixed term.
Source: Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c R-17.1Eviction notice periods vary a lot by reason
Non-payment of rent or a substantial breach needs a minimum 14 clear days' notice. A landlord or relative moving in, or a sale of the property, needs 3 months' notice for a monthly tenancy. Demolition, condo conversion, major renovation, or converting the unit to non-residential use needs a full year's notice, unusually long compared to other provinces.
Source: Alberta.ca · Ending a TenancyScreening has legal limits
The Alberta Human Rights Act bars refusing an applicant based on protected grounds including family or marital status, disability, race, and specifically source of income. You can't reject someone solely for receiving AISH, income support, rental subsidies, or disability benefits. Credit and income criteria have to be applied identically to every applicant.
Source: Alberta Human Rights CommissionOne more quirk worth knowing
Guarantors and co-signers are legally permitted in Alberta, a useful option when an applicant's credit is thin rather than poor. Just make sure whatever criteria you use, income cutoffs, guarantor requirements, or otherwise, gets applied the same way to every applicant. Selective screening is itself a discrimination risk under the Alberta Human Rights Act.
Landlord rules by province: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec
Taking applications? Use our free Alberta rental application form, with the PIPA notice built in.
In Alberta, the wrong tenant is a longer problem.
No rent cap, tight vacancy in Calgary, and eviction notice periods that can run a full year. The numbers aren't small.
Because Alberta has no ceiling on rent increases, a good tenant stays valuable for as long as they stay, and a bad one stays expensive for just as long. There's no built-in rent-control off-ramp that limits how much a landlord loses elsewhere.
Alberta's RTDRS is genuinely faster and cheaper than court, but it's still a hearing, not a phone call. Screening well upfront is the point in the process where you're fully in control, before a longer tenancy makes a bad fit a longer-term problem.
What a tenant background check actually covers.
Every check runs through Certn against official records, with credit data from Equifax Canada, so nothing rests on a document an Alberta applicant hands you directly.
Identity verification
Confirms your applicant is who they claim to be, using their government ID and a live check.
Adverse media check
Scans news articles, press releases, and other public sources for serious red flags.
Global watchlist screening
Checks your applicant against international fraud, sanctions, and criminal watchlists.
Equifax credit report
Essential planCredit score, debts, and payment history pulled straight from the bureau, not sent to you by the applicant.
Tamper-proof sharing: every report is sealed so it can't be edited or faked after the fact.
From applicant to verified report.
Three steps, a few minutes, no paperwork.
Send your applicant a screening link
No account or paperwork on your end. Share one link by text or email and your applicant takes it from there.
Your applicant verifies
They get a secure link, confirm their ID on their phone, and consent to the checks. Takes them a few minutes.
Your report arrives in minutes
A clear, tamper-proof report lands in your inbox, so you can offer the place with confidence.
One report. One price. No subscription.
Choose the package that fits, then pay once per screening.
With no cap on how much rent can climb in Alberta, a good tenant is worth even more over the life of a lease, and the report is where that starts.
Try us risk-free. If you're not satisfied with your Quickscreen report, we'll refund you up to $50.
Screening powered by Certn. Managing more than a few units? See tenant screening for property managers for volume pricing and team access.
Got questions?
Questions Alberta landlords actually ask
Does Alberta have rent control?
No. Alberta places no cap on how much a landlord can raise rent, unlike Ontario or BC. The rules that do apply are procedural: at least 3 full months' written notice before an increase takes effect, only once in any 12-month period, and no change at all during a fixed term.
Source: Residential Tenancies Act, SA 2004, c R-17.1How much security deposit can I collect in Alberta?
Up to one month's rent, and that cap doesn't rise even if you later raise the rent. The deposit has to go into an interest-bearing trust account within 2 banking days of receipt.
Source: Service Alberta · Security DepositsWhat is the RTDRS, and is it faster than going to court?
The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service is a purpose-built tribunal for tenancy disputes, hearing claims up to $100,000 for unpaid rent, deposits, repairs, and termination. It's generally faster and cheaper than Provincial Court or the Court of King's Bench, with a 2-year window to file a claim.
Source: Alberta.ca · RTDRSCan I turn down an applicant who receives AISH or income support?
No. The Alberta Human Rights Act protects source of income alongside grounds like family status, disability, and race. You can't reject someone solely because they receive AISH, income support, a rental subsidy, or disability benefits.
Source: Alberta Human Rights CommissionHow much notice do I need to give if I'm demolishing or majorly renovating the building?
A full year. Demolition, condo conversion, major renovation, or converting a unit to non-residential use all require a year's notice in Alberta, unusually long compared to other provinces, where a few months is more typical.
Source: Alberta.ca · Ending a TenancyDoes my applicant have to consent to a credit check?
Yes. Consent is built into the flow: your applicant receives a secure link, confirms their identity themselves, and agrees to the checks before anything runs. You never need to collect or forward their documents, and nothing is pulled without their sign-off.