Residential tenancies in Saskatchewan are governed by The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, SS 2006, c R-22.0001 (RTA), which came into force in 2007. The Act applies to most private residential rental units in the province. Disputes between landlords and tenants are resolved by the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT), a specialized provincial tribunal. This guide covers the key provisions of the SK RTA for landlords and tenants entering 2026.
Security Deposit: One Month Maximum
Under the Saskatchewan RTA, a landlord may require a security deposit at the beginning of a tenancy, but the amount is limited to one month's rent. The deposit is held to secure the tenant's obligations under the lease — particularly the obligation to leave the unit in good condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and to pay all rent owing.
Rules for the security deposit in Saskatchewan:
- The landlord must provide a written receipt for the deposit.
- Interest accrues on the deposit at the rate prescribed by regulation.
- On termination of the tenancy, the landlord must return the deposit within the time required by the Act, minus any amounts lawfully deducted (with a written statement of deductions).
- If the landlord wants to keep any of the deposit, they must provide the tenant with a written itemized list of deductions within the prescribed time after the tenancy ends.
- Disputes about deposit deductions are resolved by the ORT.
Notice Periods: Periodic and Fixed-Term Tenancies
The notice required to end a tenancy in Saskatchewan depends on whether the tenancy is periodic (e.g., month-to-month) or fixed-term:
- Periodic tenancy (month-to-month): Either the landlord or the tenant must give at least one full rental period's notice to end a periodic tenancy. For a monthly tenancy, this means one full calendar month's notice — notice given mid-month must be for the end of the following month.
- Fixed-term tenancy: A fixed-term lease in Saskatchewan ends automatically at the end of the term — there is no automatic renewal as in Quebec. If both parties wish to continue, they must sign a new lease or permit the tenancy to continue on a month-to-month basis. If neither party gives notice, the tenancy becomes month-to-month after the fixed term ends.
Landlords who wish to end a periodic tenancy for cause (non-payment of rent, damage, illegal activity) must use the appropriate notice form prescribed by the ORT. The notice periods for cause-based terminations are shorter than the one-month notice for no-fault terminations.
ORT Dispute Resolution
The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) is the provincial tribunal that handles landlord-tenant disputes in Saskatchewan. Applications to the ORT can be made by either landlords or tenants for a wide range of matters, including:
- Applications by landlords for possession (eviction) orders and unpaid rent.
- Applications by tenants for return of security deposits or compensation for landlord breaches.
- Disputes about repairs and maintenance obligations.
- Applications regarding rent increases that exceed permitted amounts.
ORT hearings are typically conducted in person or by telephone and are decided by residential tenancy officers. Fees apply for filing applications. ORT orders are legally binding and can be filed in the Court of Queen's Bench (now King's Bench) for enforcement.
Landlord Entry: 24-Hour Notice Required
Saskatchewan landlords must provide at least 24 hours' written notice before entering a rental unit. The notice must specify the reason for entry and the time of entry, which must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Permitted reasons for entry include making repairs, inspecting the condition of the premises, showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers, or any other reason agreed to by the tenant.
Emergency entry (e.g., to address a water leak or fire) does not require advance notice. A landlord who enters without proper notice (except in a genuine emergency) violates the RTA and may be liable to the tenant for damages. Repeated unauthorized entries can constitute harassment.
Rent Increases: 6-Month Notice Required
Saskatchewan has one of the longest rent increase notice requirements in Canada. A landlord who wishes to increase rent for a periodic tenancy must give the tenant at least six months' written notice before the increase takes effect. The notice must be in writing and state the new rent amount and the date it takes effect.
Saskatchewan does not have a statutory rent cap (unlike Ontario and BC), meaning there is no legislated limit on the percentage by which rent can be increased. However, the 6-month notice requirement gives tenants significant lead time to decide whether to accept the increase or give notice to vacate. For fixed-term leases, rent is fixed at the amount stated in the lease for the entire term.
Fixed-Term Lease Considerations
Because fixed-term leases in Saskatchewan end automatically at the end of the term, landlords should be aware that they are not guaranteed to have a tenant after the fixed term. If the landlord wishes to continue renting to the same tenant, they should negotiate a new lease well before the expiry date. Tenants should be aware that they have no automatic right to stay after the fixed term ends — though a landlord who wishes the tenant to leave must ensure this is communicated clearly, as a failure to communicate can result in an implicit month-to-month tenancy.
Abandoned Property Rules
If a tenant vacates the rental unit and leaves personal property behind, Saskatchewan landlords must follow a specific process for dealing with abandoned property:
- The landlord should make reasonable efforts to contact the former tenant to arrange retrieval of the property.
- If the property appears to be abandoned (the tenant has clearly vacated and made no effort to retrieve their belongings), the landlord must store the property for a minimum period specified under the RTA before disposing of it.
- The landlord may be able to recover storage costs from the value of the property (for items of value) before releasing the remainder.
- Items of no apparent value (trash) may generally be disposed of immediately.
- If there is doubt about whether property has been abandoned, the landlord should apply to the ORT for direction rather than disposing of potentially valuable items.