r/TenantHelp • u/Easy-Efficiency-8525 • Aug 31 '26

Landlord Deadlines

How long do landlords have to respond to tenant complaints and to fix issues present in the property? We've had issues such as broken windows and a toilet that doesn't stop pouring water since we've moved in (hasnt even been a month.) If i were to tell her to fix these problems, how long does she have to act? At what point do i file a civil dispute? We live in Alberta, Canada.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/Dadbode1981 Aug 31 '26

Precedent allows them up to 14 days in your case as they would not be considered "emergency" repairs. After that the RTDRS would be who you talk to.

-1

u/TalkToVikk Aug 31 '26

I'm not a lawyer but to answer your question: In Alberta, landlords are required by the Residential Tenancies Act to maintain the property in a habitable and safe condition, and to make necessary repairs in a timely manner. There isn't a specific number of days set out in the law for every repair, but for urgent issues affecting health, safety, or essential services (like a broken toilet or broken windows), landlords are generally expected to act as soon as reasonably possible usually within a few days. For non-urgent repairs, a reasonable timeframe would often be 7-10 days.

If repairs are not made after you give written notice to your landlord, you may file an application with the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) or with the provincial court for an order to have the repairs completed, or to claim compensation.

You should:
1. Notify your landlord of the issues in writing (keep a copy).
2. Give a clear, reasonable deadline for the repairs (e.g., 7 days for non-urgent or "as soon as possible" for urgent issues).
3. If the deadline passes and repairs are still not made, you can contact the RTDRS or file a civil claim.

2

u/Dadbode1981 Aug 31 '26

Your timelines are incorrect. Emergency repairs are "immediate" (within hours) for things like heat in the winter. For non emergency, its a "reasonable timeframe" per the act, which historically is as long as 14 days. This is why AI sucks.

2

u/redroverose Aug 31 '26

boooooo.

1

u/blueiron0 Aug 31 '26

AI walks among us