Information about Renting

My rental unit is up for sale

the rental unit until the end of the school year (June 30).

This exception applies to both month-to-month and

fixed-term agreements. If a fixed term tenancy ends

during the school year, the landlord must provide the

three month notice ending the tenancy, and still allow

the tenant to stay until the end of the school year.

Tenants who live in a unit that has been sold and get a

three month notice to move out can choose to move

out earlier. In this situation, the tenant only has to give

the landlord notice of one rental payment period

(ex: one month).

When a tenant receives notice to move out because

the property is sold, the landlord must pay the tenants’

reasonable moving expenses, up to a maximum

of $500.

For more information on the sale of rental units,

contact the branch office nearest you or go to the

Residential Tenancies Branch website.

Notice to New Tenant

Forms are a Must

for Landlords

The Notice to New Tenant (NTNT) form is a Residential

Tenancies Regulation form that shows:

What the current rent on a unit is and when it was

first charged.

What the rent was before the current rate.

What the date and amount of an increase will be if

the rent is going up within three months of the start

of the tenancy.

If averaging was used, how the current rent was

figured out (section 132 of

The Residential

Tenancies Act

).

Whatever other information is required on the form.

It is very important for landlords to give new tenants

this form at the start of the tenancy, when the tenant

agrees to take the unit.

Without this form, any

allowable rent increase paid to the landlord when

a new tenant moves in may be voided.

This means the Residential Tenancies Branch may roll

the rent back to the amount it was before the tenant

moved in. If that happens, the landlord may have to

pay the tenant back any money that was collected over

the original amount of the rent.

If you are a new landlord or if you need help filling out

the form for the first time, call or visit the branch office

nearest you. This form is available on our website for

landlords to fill in and submit online. Or, you can print

the form off, fill it in and send it or drop it off to the

nearest branch office.

Sometimes rental units or whole buildings or

complexes are exempt from rent regulation.

This means that for those units, the annual rent

increase guideline does not apply. Landlords can

choose the amount for the increase each year.

Some common reasons for a building to be exempt:

Newer construction of units can mean an exemption.

For example, if the first tenant moved into the

building after April 9, 2001, it is exempt for 15 years.

If the first tenant moved into the building after March

7, 2005, the unit is exempt for 20 years.

If a landlord applied for – and got – approval for a

Rehabilitation Scheme (on a whole complex) from

the Residential Tenancies Branch, an exemption

from rent regulation would apply for a certain period.

A specific unit can be exempt in a building or

complex. This can happen when the rent is over

a certain amount each year (the government sets

this amount each year). It can also happen when

a landlord applies for – and gets – approval for a

Specified Unit Rehabilitation Scheme from

the branch.

During an exemption period, landlords can set the rent

at an amount they choose once per year, as long as

they give tenants three months written notice.

If you are a landlord and have questions about your

exempt units, contact your nearest Residential

Tenancies Branch office. If you are a tenant and have

questions about your unit, call the branch or go to

the website.

When a unit is

exempt from

rent regulation...

The Residential Tenancies Act

regulates the maximum

discount landlords can offer new tenants when they

move into a vacated unit. This maximum applies when

tenants move into a

building of three units or less.

There is no limit on the amount of discount a landlord

can offer for units in buildings with four units or more

– as long as the rent before the discount is an amount

allowed under the Act.

When a unit in a building of three units or less is

vacated, landlords can set the rent on these units

at an amount they choose when they rent to a new

tenant. Sometimes landlords set the rent, but offer

new tenants a discount as incentive to rent.

Domestic violence happens when people in a

relationship (now or in the past) either abuse or are

abused by the other person in the relationship. The

abuse can be physical, mental or sexual and can

happen to anyone.

Both landlords and tenants are often aware of this

kind of abuse and are unsure about what to do. It’s

important to call the police if you think a neighbour is

(or if you are) in immediate danger from an abuser.

(continued next page)

The Residential Rent Regulation limits the discount for

units in buildings of three units or less to 25 percent of

the total rent. For example, if landlords decide that rent

on a unit is $800, they are allowed to offer a maximum

discount of $200. The total rent payable by the tenant

would be $600. If the landlord has a reason to remove

a discount, the total rent payable would be a maximum

of $800.

The Act sets out specific requirements when setting or

removing a discount. If you need help or information on

discounts, contact the nearest branch office or go to

the website.

Some signs that a person may be a victim of domestic

abuse:

They have frequent injuries (cuts, bruises,

broken bones).

They seem too withdrawn or isolated from friends

and family.

They seem sad, lonely and afraid.

Some signs that a person may be abusive:

They seem jealous, possessive and controlling of the

other person.

They criticize and put the other person down.

They take over conversations and don’t let the other

person talk.

They check up on the other person with a lot of

phone calls, texts or visits.

If you are being abused and you are in immediate

danger,

call the police.

If you are not in immediate danger, but want help:

Phone: 1-877-977-0007

TTY: 1-888-987-2829

These are toll free phone lines for everyone,

province-wide.

Or, go to: www.gov.mb.ca/domesticviolence.

Maximum discounts for new tenants

Help Break the Silence on Domestic Violence

Need information?

Winnipeg at

302–254 Edmonton Street

or call 204-945-2476

Brandon at 157–340 9th Street

or call 204-726-6230

Thompson at

113–59 Elizabeth Drive

or call 204-677-6496

Toll free 1-800-782-8403

Online: manitoba.ca/rtb

Offline: in person or by phone

Visit your branch office

Monday to Friday

from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This publication is available in alternate

formats upon request.

To subscribe to Open Doors, order bulk copies,

give us your comments, or get more information,

call 204-945-2476 in Winnipeg, toll-free

1-800-782-8403 or visit manitoba.ca/rtb.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40065629

Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to

Residential Tenancies Branch

c/o Unit 7 - 1715 St. James Street

Winnipeg, MB R3H 1H3

Talking to abuse victims:

If you think it may help to talk to someone who

is a victim of domestic violence, follow these

guidelines:

If you are going to speak to the victim about the

abuse, be sure she/he is alone in a safe place.

Never do it if the abusive person is around or can

hear you.

If the person doesn’t want to talk about the

abuse, don’t force them.

Encourage the person being abused to call

the help line or to contact some other support

service (ex: religious leader or social worker).

Express your concern for their safety. Avoid

blaming the victim, or criticizing their decisions.

Do not talk to the abusive person about the

abuse. It may put you and or the abused person

in danger.

To find out more about domestic violence and how you

can help:

Phone: 1-877-977-0777.

This is the province-wide toll free domestic violence

information and crisis line.

Or, go to:

www.gov.mb.ca/stoptheviolence/know_someone.

Important:

The Residential Tenancies Act

says that victims of

domestic violence may be able to leave a tenancy

agreement early, if there is a threat to them or the

safety of their children if they stay in their rental unit.

For more information about this, call or go to the

Residential Tenancies Branch office nearest to you.