How the deposit works in Alberta
Under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act, the landlord and tenant should do a move-out inspection, generally within a week of the tenant moving out. The landlord then has 10 days after the tenancy ends to return the deposit, or return part of it with a statement of what was kept and why.
Tip: Attend the inspection, and take dated photos of every room after you clean. Deductions should match what the inspection report shows. This is general information, not legal advice. Check Alberta's landlord and tenant resources for your situation.
Every room
- Ceilings: cobwebs in corners, dust on textured ceilings, cooking film near the kitchen
- Walls: scuffs, fingerprints around switches, marks behind furniture
- Light fixtures and switch plates
- Baseboards, door frames and doors
- Window sills and tracks; blinds dusted
- Vent covers and return-air grilles
- Floors vacuumed and washed, including under where furniture stood
Kitchen
- Cabinets wiped inside and out, including the tops
- Fridge cleaned inside, pulled out and cleaned behind if it moves safely
- Oven, stovetop and range hood degreased; replace or clean the hood filter
- Backsplash, counters and sink
- The ceiling above the stove: grease film here is easy to miss and easy to spot
Bathrooms
- Tub, shower, tile and grout
- Toilet, including the base and behind it
- Vanity, mirror and inside drawers
- Exhaust fan cover; bathroom ceilings often have mildew spots
What gets missed most often
- Ceilings. Yellowed or dusty ceilings, especially textured ones, are hard to clean without damaging them. See how to clean a popcorn ceiling.
- Walls. Scrubbing scuffs too hard can take paint with it.
- The tops of things: cabinets, door frames, fridge.
- Grout lines in the kitchen and bathroom.
For landlords and property managers
Turning a unit over between tenants is the best time to deal with yellowed ceilings, scuffed walls and tired grout, before the next tenant's move-in inspection records them. See move-in and move-out cleaning.