Released on June 1, 2009
Provisions within The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, 2008 that govern the way security deposits are recovered by landlords will be proclaimed June 1.
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, 2008 was passed in the fall sitting of the Legislature. The Act is in response to a recommendation from the Merriman-Pringle Report of the Task Team on Housing Affordability, delivered in June of last year. Sections of the Act surrounding notices of rent increase came into effect on December 12, 2008. This proclamation will bring the rest of the Act into effect.
The new provisions streamline the process for a landlord to apply to keep any or all of a tenant's damage deposit. If the tenant leaves a forwarding address, the landlord must serve that person with a claim on the deposit being held. The tenant can then file a dispute notice with the Office of Residential Tenancies and a hearing will be convened. However, if a forwarding address is not supplied, the tenant can still appeal the claim within 120 days of the end of their lease.
Provisions surrounding evictions also come into effect on June 1.
"When introducing and passing the Act it was our intention to present rules that balance the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants while making the process more efficient for all concerned," Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. "We feel that we have done that."
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For more information, contact:
Laur'Lei Silzer
Justice and Attorney General
Regina
Phone: 306 787-0775
Email: laurlei.silzer@gov.sk.ca