Reference Guide: Assistance and Information

LANDLORD AND TENANT ADVISORY BOARDS

The Residential Tenancies Act allows a council to set up a Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board. A council is defined as a council of a city, a town, a village, a municipal district or a Métis settlement.

The functions of a Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board are

• to advise landlords and tenants in matters relating to a tenancy;
• to receive complaints and to try to mediate disputes between landlords and tenants. (mediation occurs when the Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board brings the landlord and tenant together to talk about the issues between them with the assistance of a mediator. The parties then try to reach an agreement themselves);
• to make information available for the purpose of educating and advising landlords and tenants about rental practices, their rights and available remedies; and
• to receive complaints concerning conduct that is in breach of the laws governing tenancies and investigate those complaints.

A few areas in Alberta have a Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board. They are

• Edmonton - 496-5878,
• Red Deer- 346-4636, and
• Fort McMurray- 743-5000.

The extent of services that a Board offers will depend upon its resources. Advice can generally be
obtained in person or by phone. Information packages, including forms, are often available for purchase.

It is important to note that a Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board does not:

• enforce the law;
• inspect rental units;
• act as a collection agency for landlords or tenants; or
• force landlords or tenants to do anything.

A Landlord and Tenant Advisory Board will only serve residents of the particular municipality or area that set it up. If there is not a Board available in an area, residents can call Alberta Government Services.

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Alberta Government Services