Alberta landlord form for claiming property damage
This Alberta form is for a landlord claiming property damage after the tenant has moved out.
Before you file
- Confirm that the tenancy has ended and choose the form appropriate to the claim.
- Create an itemized schedule of each loss with evidence of repair costs, invoices or replacement value.
- Compare mandatory move-in and move-out inspections and explain normal wear and tear.
- Check the general jurisdiction and timing limits, then apply with the right fee or waiver.
- Serve the tenant and preserve proof of service for the hearing.
What makes a damage claim persuasive?
Use RTDR0006 for a landlord's claim for qualifying damage after the tenant has moved out. A disagreement over ordinary wear is different from proof that a tenant breached the lease or legislation and caused a measurable loss. The landlord must establish what was damaged, why the tenant is responsible and the reasonable amount claimed.
- Condition before and after: place dated move-in and move-out inspection reports beside photographs of the same area.
- Cost and age: include itemized invoices, repair estimates or receipts and explain the item's age and condition. A demand for the full price of a brand-new replacement can be challenged if the old item had already depreciated.
- Cause: explain why the loss exceeds normal wear and tear, rather than presenting only the cost of routine turnover cleaning or maintenance.
- Totals: separate each damage item and avoid claiming the same loss twice through both a deposit deduction and the application.
Example: an itemized claim
Suppose an exit inspection and photographs document a damaged interior door. A landlord lists a $210 repair invoice and explains which marks were absent in the signed move-in inspection. If the tenant disputes the cause or the invoice, the Tenancy Dispute Officer weighs the records; an invoice by itself does not automatically prove liability.
Keep the security-deposit accounting, any deductions already made, and the damage schedule together so the amount still sought is clear.
Filing limits and next steps
RTDRS says applications generally must be brought within two years of discovering the possible claim, with a $100,000 claim limit and an eligible tenancy under the provincial legislation. Once RTDRS issues the filed package and Notice of Telephone Hearing, a landlord must serve each respondent by an accepted method at least three clear days before the hearing (not counting the service day, hearing day, weekends or holidays). Keep the Declaration of Service and delivery records.
For a detailed breakdown of damage evidence and depreciation, consult the Alberta RTDRS Damages and Depreciation tip sheets.