Renting in Yukon

Governing or Regulatory Body

Consumer Services, Department of Community Services, Yukon

Name of Act / Regulations

Landlord and Tenant Act (Part 4 Residential Tenancies)

Types of Housing/Living Arrangements Covered by the Provincial Legislation

Residential Premises, Mobile Home Sites

Types of Rental Periods

Weekly, monthly or year-to-year

Is a signed lease required?

No. A tenancy agreement means an agreement between a tenant and a landlord for possession of residential premises, whether written or oral, express or implied. Where a tenancy agreement in writing is executed by a tenant, the landlord shall ensure that a fully executed duplicate original copy of the tenancy agreement is delivered to the tenant within 21 days after its execution and delivery by the tenant.

Is a signed move in/move out checklist required?

No.

Deposits

Amount shall not exceed the amount of rent payable for the first month of tenancy. (A security deposit can be applied towards last month's rent.) The landlord shall pay interest at the rate prescribed (set by the territory) on the security deposit either annually or 15 days after the tenancy is terminated, whichever is earlier. A security deposit can be applied toward the payment of the last rent period under the tenancy agreement. Where a landlord and tenant have signed a statement as to the condition of the residential premises, the security deposit may be applied toward the rectification of damage done to the premises.

Key Money

Requiring key money is not illegal.

Post-dated Cheques

Landlords may not require post-dated cheques or other negotiable instruments to be used for payment of the rent. Landlords may request post-dated cheques but tenants are not obliged to comply.

Renewal of a Lease Term

Year-to-year leases renew for another year if no notice is given. Either party may give notice 90 days before the end of their lease. Parties may negotiate a new lease at that time.

Terminating a Lease: Notice and Timing

Tenants may not give notice during a fixed term lease, rather at the end of the fixed term. Fixed term leases expire automatically; the end of a fixed term is a valid reason for the landlord to terminate the tenancy. Otherwise landlords may only terminate a tenancy for specified reasons as set out in the legislation

The same notice periods apply to both landlords and tenants:

• On a year-to-year tenancy, a minimum of 90 days notice is required. The notice to terminate must be given to the landlord by the 90th day before the last day of the year in which the tenancy will end. The end of the lease term is a valid reason for the landlord to terminate the tenancy; in this case they can terminate without substantial breach. Once proper notice is given, the tenancy will end on the last day of the year. Landlords may give a 14 day eviction notice for breach of the agreement or termination by application to a judge.
  
• For a weekly tenancy, a minimum of one week's notice is required. The notice to terminate must be given to the landlord by the last day of the week prior to the week in which the tenancy will end. Once proper notice is given, the tenancy will end on the last day of the week that follows the notice.
  
• For a monthly tenancy, a minimum of one month's notice is required. The notice to terminate must be given to the landlord by the last day of the month prior to the month in which the tenancy will end. Once proper notice is given, the tenancy will end on the last day of the month that follows. For example, a tenant who plans to end a tenancy on October 31st must give the landlord a notice of termination by September 30th.
  
• For a tenancy in relation to a mobile home site, a minimum of twelve month's notice is required. The notice to terminate must be given to the tenant on or before the last day of the month that is twelve months prior to the month when the tenancy will terminate. Once proper notice is given, the tenancy will end on the last day of the twelfth month following the month in which the notice was given. The mobile home site tenancy shall not terminate in any of the months of December, January or February.

Assignments and Sublets

Where the tenancy agreement is for a term of six months or more, a tenant has the right to assign or sublet the rented premises. This is subject to the consent of the landlord and consent shall not be arbitrarily or unreasonably withheld.

Rent Increases: Notice and Timing

Rent increases during the first year of a tenancy agreement are not allowed. Landlords must notify the tenant in writing three months prior to the date of the increase.

Late Rent Payments

The tenant has the responsibility of paying the rent when it is due as stated in the rental agreement.

Evictions

Where a tenant commits a substantial breach of his tenancy agreement, the landlord may either:

1. apply to a judge for an order terminating the tenancy, or
2. terminate the tenancy by giving a 14 day written notice of termination to the tenant, stating the effective date of the termination and the details of the alleged substantial breach.

A substantial breach includes a breach of responsibility of the tenant as set out in the Act or a series of breaches of a residential tenancy agreement, the cumulative effect of which is substantial.

Fine Points

Permitting Landlord Entry to the Premises (Times and Reasons)

The landlord must first specify an entry time in a written notice and give it to the tenant at least 24 hours before the entry time. Allowable entry times are between 8 a.m and 9 p.m. Exceptions: The landlord has the right to enter: in the case of emergency; with the consent of the tenant given at the time of entry, to show the premises to prospective purchasers or tenants after notice of termination of the tenancy has been given, or where the tenant abandons the premises.

May the tenant withhold rent for repairs?

The Landlord Tenant Act does not address this matter.

Changing Locks

Not allowed. A landlord or tenant shall not, during occupancy of the rented premises by the tenant, alter or cause to be altered the locking system giving entry to the rented premises, except by mutual consent.

Pets and Smoking

May a landlord refuse to rent to a tenant who has pets or smokes?

Yukon's tenancy legislation does not address these issues.

If a no pets and no smoking clause is written into a lease and the landlord discovers that the tenant has a pet and/or smokes in the rental unit, is this grounds for the landlord to evict the tenant?

Yes, if a no smoking or a no pets clause is in the tenancy agreement and all tenants in the building are treated equally (that is to say that no one is allowed pets and there is a no smoking policy throughout the building), tenants breaking these rules would be committing a substantial breach of their lease and an eviction notice would be justified.

Contact Information For general information about renting in Yukon contact:

Government of Yukon
Consumer & Safety Services
Community Services
Andrew A. Philipsen Law Centre
2130 Second Avenue
Box 2703
Whitehorse, YK
Y1A 2C6 (C-5)
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0408 local 5111(within Yukon)
Tel.: 867-667-5111
Fax: 867-667-3609
http://www.gov.yk.ca

Related Links

Yukon Housing Corporation
This organization links "... families, communities and the housing industry with programs that offer access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing". Most of the valuable information targets social housing.
http://www.housing.yk.ca/

Yukon Territorial Government
Department of Community Services
Landlord and Tenant Information Hotline: 867-667-5111

Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities
This information is a general summary of the Yukon Landlord and Tenant Act, outlining landlord and tenant responsibilities and where to go if you have a problem.
http://www.community.gov.yk.ca/consumer/landtact.html

Social Housing

Information on the social housing program, which is available to individuals, families and seniors "in need" who cannot secure affordable, adequate and suitable housing on the private housing market.
http://housing.yk.ca/services/shp.html

410H Jarvis Street
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2H5

In Whitehorse call 867-667-5759 or call toll free 1-800-661-0408 for Yukon callers outside of Whitehorse.