What Is It?
Every province and territory in Canada protects tenants’ right to quiet enjoyment of their home. Landlords cannot enter a rental unit without giving proper advance notice — except in genuine emergencies. Entering without notice is an unlawful entry and can give rise to a complaint at the residential tenancy tribunal, damages, or even grounds to terminate the lease.
Notice Requirements by Province
| Province | Required Notice | Permitted Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 24 hours written notice | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| BC | 24 hours written notice | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. |
| Alberta | 24 hours notice | Reasonable hours |
| Quebec | Notice required “in advance” — 24 hours is the standard practice | Reasonable hours |
| Manitoba | 24 hours written notice | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Nova Scotia | 24 hours notice | Not specified (daytime hours implied) |
| Saskatchewan | 24 hours written notice | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| New Brunswick | 24 hours notice | Reasonable hours |
| PEI | 24 hours notice | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
Permitted Reasons for Entry
Landlords may enter for specific reasons only:
- To make necessary or agreed repairs or alterations
- To show the unit to prospective tenants (only after notice to vacate has been given, or during the last 60–90 days of tenancy)
- To show the unit to prospective purchasers (requires 24 hours notice)
- To inspect the condition of the unit (periodic inspection)
- For an emergency
Emergency Exception
No notice is required in a genuine emergency — fire, burst pipe, gas leak, or other situations requiring immediate action to protect life or property. “Emergency” does not mean inconvenience or a landlord’s scheduling preference. A landlord who routinely invokes “emergency” to bypass notice requirements is violating the Act.
What to Do If Your Landlord Enters Without Notice
Step 1 — Document each incident. Note the date, time, who entered, and what was said or done.
Step 2 — Write to the landlord. Send a letter or email citing the provincial residential tenancies act and the specific notice requirement. Request compliance going forward and acknowledgment of the violation.
Step 3 — File a complaint at the tribunal if violations continue. In Ontario: Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). In BC: Residential Tenancy Branch. In Alberta: Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS).
Potential remedies:
- Order requiring the landlord to comply with notice requirements
- Monetary compensation for the tenant
- In repeated cases, grounds to terminate the lease without penalty
What Most People Don’t Know
- The notice must be in writing in most provinces — a text message counts, but a verbal mention in passing likely does not satisfy the requirement.
- You can refuse entry if proper notice wasn’t given (except in emergencies). Refusing a landlord who shows up without the required notice is not a breach of your lease.
- Showing the unit to purchasers requires the same 24-hour notice as any other entry — even if the landlord has listed the property for sale. Open house appointments during tenant occupancy must be individually noticed.
- Harassment through excessive entries (even with notice) can be grounds for a harassment or quiet enjoyment application at the tribunal.
Frequently Asked Questions
My landlord gave me notice and I said “not convenient” — can they still enter?
If the landlord has given proper notice and your refusal is not based on a legitimate reason (illness, inconvenience at that hour), the landlord can generally still enter at the notified time in most provinces. However, reasonable tenants and landlords typically negotiate alternative times for non-urgent entries.
Can my landlord do a surprise “inspection” once a month?
No. Routine inspections require 24 hours written notice and must be for a legitimate purpose. Frequent inspections without justification may constitute harassment of the tenant, which is separately prohibited under residential tenancy legislation.
The landlord entered while I was at work. I found the door unlocked when I got home. What should I do?
Document it, check if there’s a reasonable explanation (e.g., emergency repairs), then write to the landlord. If it’s a pattern, file a complaint with the residential tenancy authority.
Does the notice requirement apply to my roommate or co-tenant letting someone in?
The notice requirement runs between the landlord and the tenants listed on the lease. Roommates on the lease can consent to entry on behalf of the household, but ideally all co-tenants should be informed.