A Canadian Notice to Vacate (also called a Tenant’s Notice to End Tenancy) is a formal written notice from a tenant to a landlord stating the tenant’s intention to terminate the tenancy and vacate the rental unit by a specific date. This document is a legal requirement in every Canadian province and territory before a tenant can end a periodic tenancy.

The notice requirements are governed by provincial residential tenancy legislation, and the rules differ significantly from province to province. In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (S.O. 2006, c. 17), section 44, requires a monthly tenant to provide at least 60 days’ written notice, with the termination date falling on the last day of a rental period. The Landlord and Tenant Board provides Form N9 as the prescribed form for this purpose, although a written letter containing the required information is generally accepted.

In British Columbia, the Residential Tenancy Act (R.S.B.C. 2002, c. 78), section 45, requires one full month’s notice for a monthly tenancy, effective the day before rent is due. The Residential Tenancy Branch provides Form RTB-33. Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act (S.A. 2004, c. R-17.1), section 8, requires one month’s notice for monthly tenancies and three months for yearly tenancies. Saskatchewan and Manitoba both require one month’s notice for monthly tenancies.

A tenant on a fixed-term lease generally cannot give notice to vacate before the end of the fixed term. In Ontario, the tenant must wait until the last day of the fixed term to give 60 days’ notice. In BC, the tenancy automatically converts to month-to-month at the end of a fixed term unless proper notice is given. Failure to provide proper notice may result in the tenant being liable for additional rent for the notice period they should have given.

A Notice to Vacate is needed whenever a tenant decides to end a periodic (month-to-month, weekly, or yearly) tenancy. It is the tenant’s legal obligation to provide written notice before vacating, and failure to do so can result in the tenant remaining liable for rent beyond the intended departure date.

The notice is required when a month-to-month tenancy has been established, either from the outset or because a fixed-term lease has expired and converted to month-to-month. In Ontario, this automatic conversion occurs under section 38 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Once the tenancy is month-to-month, the tenant must provide 60 days’ notice to terminate.

The notice is also needed when a fixed-term lease is expiring and the tenant does not intend to renew. In Ontario, the tenant should give notice at least 60 days before the last day of the fixed term. In BC, notice must be given at least one month before the end of the fixed term, or the tenancy rolls over to month-to-month.

A tenant who has paid a security deposit, last month’s rent deposit, or key deposit should include a request for the return of the deposit in the notice. The deposit return timelines vary: British Columbia requires return within 15 days (Residential Tenancy Act, s. 38), Alberta within 10 days (Residential Tenancies Act, s. 18), and Ontario prohibits security deposits entirely but allows a last month’s rent deposit that must be applied to the final month’s rent.

Providing a forwarding address in the notice ensures the landlord can return the deposit and send any future correspondence, including inspection reports or statements of account.

The Notice to Vacate must include the tenant’s full legal name and the complete address of the rental unit being vacated, including any unit or apartment number. If multiple tenants are named on the lease, all tenants who are vacating should be listed or should each provide separate notices, depending on provincial requirements.

The landlord’s name and address must be clearly stated so the notice can be properly delivered. In Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board has held that a notice is effective when received by the landlord, not when sent. Tenants should consider delivering the notice personally or by registered mail to establish proof of delivery.

The termination date is the most critical element. It must comply with the applicable provincial minimum notice period AND align with the end of the rental period. In Ontario, 60 days ending on the last day of a rental period. In BC, one month ending the day before rent is due. In Alberta, one month for monthly tenancies. A notice with an incorrect termination date may be invalid, and the tenant may remain liable for rent until proper notice is given.

The type of tenancy (month-to-month, fixed-term, weekly, yearly) should be stated, as it determines the applicable notice period. The day of the month that rent is due should also be included to demonstrate that the termination date aligns with the rental period.

If requesting the return of a deposit, the notice should state the type and amount of the deposit. The tenant should include a forwarding address where the deposit cheque and any correspondence should be sent. The notice should reference the applicable provincial deposit return timeline.

The notice must be signed and dated by the tenant. Some provinces accept electronic delivery (email) if the parties have previously agreed to communicate by email, but in-person delivery or registered mail remains the most reliable method of establishing that proper notice was given.