Tenant Survival Guide

Your rights

• Privacy. Your landlord needs to give you written notice — at least 24 hours and not more than 7 days ahead — stating the date, time and reason before entering, and can only enter between 8am and 8pm, unless you agree otherwise or it's an emergency.
• Repairs. Your landlord has to maintain the place. If something breaks and isn't your doing, they fix it.
• Locks. Your landlord can't change the locks on you. (You can't either.)
• Guests. You have the right to have visitors.
• Rent increases are capped. Since September 2025, rent can go up at most once a year, by no more than the territory's rent index, with three months' written notice. A landlord who wants more than the index has to apply and justify it.
• Your deposit is protected. Maximum one month's rent, it can't be increased, and it comes back within 15 days of moving out unless you've agreed in writing to deductions or the Residential Tenancies Office decides otherwise.

Your responsibilities

1. Pay your rent on time, every month.
2. Honour your tenancy agreement — including spoken agreements.
3. Keep the place clean, and repair what you or your visitors damage.
4. Tell your landlord when something needs maintenance. In writing is best.
5. Clean up after yourself, your kids and your pets.
6. Keep the noise down — you're responsible for your guests' noise too.
7. Give proper written notice before you move out, and understand what happens with your deposit before you go.

Protect yourself from day one

• The condition inspection report is now required by law at move-in and move-out. Do the walk-through with your landlord, be picky, and make sure you get your signed copy. It's what protects your deposit later.
• Take photos of everything before you move your things in, and keep them.
• Keep a copy of every written message between you and your landlord.
• Don't sign an agreement you can't honour — smoking rules and pets are the classic ways people set themselves up for trouble.

If you get an eviction notice

Since September 2025, a landlord can't end your tenancy "without cause" — there has to be a reason the law recognizes, with proper notice. For unpaid rent, they must first give you 5 days to pay before a notice to end your tenancy can even be issued.

1. Read the notice carefully: the reason, and the date it says you must leave.
2. Don't assume it's valid. Call the Residential Tenancies Office (867-667-5944) and ask — notices with the wrong reason, timing or form don't hold.
3. Call your support worker if you have one, or reach out to a housing service. Blood Ties provides eviction prevention support (867-633-2437), and so does Safe at Home (867-334-7686). The sooner someone is involved, the more options exist.
4. If you think the real reason is discrimination, call the Yukon Human Rights Commission: 867-667-6226.
5. If you do have to move, start looking immediately — wait lists are long — and pin down what happens with your security deposit before you hand back keys.