Ending a Periodic Tenancy, What Alberta’s RTA Requires

As we move into a new year, it is a good time to revisit some of the most common legal questions we see from owners. One area that creates confusion and unnecessary risk is ending a periodic tenancy. Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act is very specific, and following the correct process matters.

A periodic tenancy, most commonly known as month-to-month, does not mean it can be ended at any time or for any reason without notice. The RTA sets clear rules that owners and tenants must follow.

Key points owners should understand:

• Notice must be in writing. Verbal conversations, text messages, or informal emails are not sufficient on their own.

• Proper notice periods apply. For a month-to-month tenancy, landlords must provide at least three full tenancy months’ notice, ending on the last day of the 3rd tenancy month. For example, if a notice is served on January 20, 2026, the 3-month notice is applied for February 1 and ends April 30, 2026. For a tenant to give notice, they may only give 1 clear month's notice to vacate legally.

Valid reasons for ending a periodic tenancy. Under the RTA, landlords may end a tenancy for specific reasons, which are:

• The landlord or a relative of the landlord wants to move in.

• The landlord agrees to sell the rental premises, all conditions of the sales agreement have been satisfied or waived, and the buyer or a relative of the buyer wants to move in. The buyer must ask the landlord in writing to give the tenant a notice to end the tenancy.

• The landlord intends to demolish the rental premises.

• The rental premises are a detached or semi-detached dwelling or one condominium unit, and the landlord agrees to sell the rental premises and all conditions of the sales agreement have been satisfied or waived. (In these cases, the buyer must ask the landlord in writing to give the tenant a notice to end the tenancy. Neither the buyer nor the buyer’s relatives have to occupy the rental premises.)

• The landlord is an educational institution, and the tenant was a student at the beginning of the tenancy, but is no longer a student.

• The landlord intends to use or rent the rental premises for a non-residential purpose.

The notice must clearly state the reason and termination date, and errors or missing information can invalidate the notice. Improper notice can delay possession. Even when an owner has the right to end a tenancy, issuing an incorrect notice can reset the process and extend timelines.

At CIR REALTY Property Management, while we prefer fixed-term tenancies overall, we do ensure all tenancy terminations are handled strictly in accordance with the RTA. This protects owners from invalid notices, unnecessary disputes, and delays that can impact cash flow and planning.