Help with Alberta rental dispute filing fees

Before filing

1. Download the current RTDRS fee waiver form from the official forms page.
2. Prepare three months of income evidence, such as pay stubs or a bank-account printout, as directed by the government.
3. Submit the fee waiver request to RTDRS using the allowed process.
4. Do not assume the fee has been waived until RTDRS confirms it.

Who can request a waiver?

An RTDRS applicant who would have financial difficulty paying the filing fee can request a waiver. This is a request for RTDRS to assess, not an automatic discount based on a single income number. The government asks for proof covering the previous three months, such as pay stubs or a bank-account printout. RTDRS may ask for more or different evidence.

As listed in the current application instructions, ordinary filing fees are $75 for claims up to $7,500 and $150 for claims above that amount. A counterclaim over $7,500 in an already active RTDRS case between the same parties is listed at $100. Check the fee category before requesting relief.

What to submit and how

1. Complete the official RTDRS Fee Waiver Form with the applicant and case details required on the form.
2. Attach readable income records for each of the preceding three months. Keep copies and remove unrelated personal information only if the form's instructions permit it.
3. Send the request to RTDRS using its current accepted channels and ask how it should be paired with an application. RTDRS says applications are submitted online, by fax or by mail; it does not offer in-person filing service.
4. Save the submission confirmation and follow RTDRS directions about the filing fee. Do not treat the request itself as approval.

Example: preparing a hardship request

A tenant planning a $2,000 deposit claim collects pay statements for August, September and October, completes the official waiver request, and contacts RTDRS about filing. Those documents help RTDRS review the request; they do not guarantee a waiver. The tenant separately prepares the evidence and service plan for the underlying claim.

Calculate before requesting relief

Check the applicable ordinary filing fee

RTDRS also has procedural rules for respondents or counterapplications. Check that the form corresponds to the relief requested.

Before relying on a waiver

The government lists a separate RTDRS Fee Waiver Form. Use the current form and confirm the evidence requirements directly with RTDRS. A submitted request is not proof of approval, and deadlines for preparing an application or serving other parties still matter.