5 Things to Expect When a Tenant Moves Out of Your Edmonton Rental Property

If you have owned rental property in Edmonton for any period of time, you know that tenants, both good and bad, eventually move out.

When this time comes, there are five key things you as an Edmonton property owner need to know.

1. You May Need to Spot Clean (At Your Expense)

Before a tenant moves out, they are expected to clean the property. While some tenants will clean better than others, you as a property owner should always be prepared to spot clean as necessary at your own expense.

Alberta provincial laws does not hold tenants to as high of a standard upon move-out as you ideally want to have when a new tenant moves-in. If you want your property to sparkle before a new tenant moves-in (and you should), take the time to do some extra cleaning as it will help attract that next great tenant.

2. You May Need to Touch Up Paint (At Your Expense)

After living in a property for two to three years, there’s bound to be a few scuffs on the walls, causing the need for paint touch ups once a tenant moves-out.

Damages caused to walls can certainly be deducted from a tenant’s deposit, but regular wear and tear from a couch leaning against a wall or a picture that was properly hung are not the tenant’s responsibility.

3. Rekey and Check Safety Items

While re-keying a property between tenants is not legally required by Alberta law, we highly recommend you re-key the property for the safety of the incoming tenants and the protection of the property.

Why? You do not want a previous tenant duplicating keys or sharing them with others who may now have access to a property in which they no longer reside.

Before a new tenant moves in, Owners are required by law to check that safety items such as carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are working properly and placed where they need to be within the unit.

For more information on safety requirements, you can get a free copy of the Alberta Minimum Housing and Health Standards requirements.

4. Return the Security Deposit Within 30 Days

You collected it when the tenant moved in, and it’s your legal responsibility to complete a vacating statement within 10 days of the tenant moving out and mail the return of any funds due to your tenant within 30 days of the tenant moving out of the property.

Even if you are keeping the entire security deposit for damages or rent owed, you as a property owner are required by law to send the tenant a vacating statement (an itemized list of charges) within 10 days.

You don’t want to forget about this important step. If you do forget, you lose all of your rights to withhold any of the security deposit and can be liable to your now ex-tenant.

5. Lawn and Snow Service & Vacancy Check

Make sure you do not forget to get your snow or lawn maintained while the unit is vacant. City of Edmonton is very diligent in issuing Bylaw tickets to owners that does not maintain their lawn and/or snow removed.

Also to make sure you understand your insurance requirements for vacancy checks while the unit is vacant. Check with your insurance provider and make sure you have a Landlord Insurance and not a standard Homeowner Insurance. The insurance provider will stipulate that a vacancy check be completed once every few days to ensure there are no surprises at the property such as furnace dying, sewer back ups or flooding while the unit is vacant. Make sure you are covered by your insurance policy for these things.

Want to learn more about what you as a landlord can and cannot charge in a tenant’s security deposit? Read our informative blog post!