Before you start looking for rental properties, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. In Manitoba, there are a few different laws that landlords have to follow. As a tenant, you should be aware of these laws too. These laws are regulated under the Residential Tenancies Branch. Continue reading to learn about how you can protect yourself as a tenant before you consider renting.

Discrimination

A landlord can’t deny you as a tenant for the following reasons:

• Race
• Place of origin or ethnic origin
• Age
• Family status
• Religious beliefs
• Sexual orientation
• Gender
• Physical or mental disability

Discrimination means treating a group of people differently without any reason. It’s against the law for a landlord to mistreat you for any of the reasons mentioned. This includes other tenants too. If you’re experiencing discrimination from another tenant, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to do something. Some examples of discrimination in renting could be:

• Refusing to rent to someone because they have children and the landlord thinks they will be “too noisy.”
• A landlord only renting to people with a credit rating which discriminates against people who are new to Canada.
• A building with no ramp which is discriminating against someone who needs a wheelchair.
• An advertisement for a rental that says you need to show your proof of Canadian citizenship which excludes permanent residents or refugees.

Tenancy agreement

Once you’ve found a place to rent, it’s important to read the tenancy agreement. This is a contract you must sign. It discusses:

• The length of your lease.
• The cost of your rent.
• What the security deposit will be.
• What is included in your rent.
• The names of everyone who is living in the unit.
• The cost of your utilities.
• Any rules the landlord has made.

Make sure you have read the full contract and understand your responsibilities as a tenant. This will avoid any future misunderstandings with your landlord. Visit the Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) in Winnipeg at 155 Carlton Street if you have any questions about your contract.

Increasing rent

In Manitoba, a landlord is allowed to increase rent only once every 12 months. Before they increase the rent, they have to give tenants at least three months notice. It also has to be written in writing with the new rent price. The government assesses what the rent increase will be every year. Go to the Residential Tenancies Brach website to see how much the rent has increased for 2025.

Maintenance and repairs

Before you move in, the landlord has to make sure the rental is in a good state for tenants to live in. It’s also the landlord’s responsibility to deal with any maintenance and repairs while you’re living in the rental. If you need any maintenance or repairs done, you should ask for it in writing. Your landlord should get back to you in a timely manner. If not, you can go to the RTB with a copy of the repairs you need done. The RTB will tell the landlord that they need to get the repairs done by a certain date. If you caused any damage as a tenant, you must pay to have the damage repaired.

Tenant’s responsibilities

As a tenant, you are responsible for the following:

1. Following your landlord’s rules written on the tenancy agreement.
2. Paying your rent on time.
3. Keeping your place clean.
4. Respecting your neighbours
5. Letting the landlord know about any repairs.

Moving out

If you decide to move out, there are a few things you have to do:

1. Give advance notice. Give your landlord at least one month’s written notice if you pay month-to-month. If you have a one-year lease, you can’t leave a fixed-term agreement early. Talk to your landlord about your options.
2. Move ahead. Move out all of your possessions before the move-out date.
3. Refer to the conditions report. Get a copy of the conditions report from your landlord. This is a list of the conditions of the rental before you moved in and after. If you made any damage, that will be added to the report and taken off your security deposit.
4. Clean the unit. A landlord will usually give you a checklist with the type of cleaning they would like done before you move out. Leaving the place clean will help you get your security deposit back.

Resources

• Tenant and Landlord Resource Guide
• What Manitoba tenants need to know

 
By Alexis Ogaranko
 
Sources: Human Rights Considerations in Housing Your Rights Your Responsibilities a Guideline Developed under the Human Rights Code 2 2,The Manitoba Human Rights Commission; Rent Increases; Tenancy Agreement What Is It?Repairs; Cleaning at the End of Tenancy; Residential Tenancies Branch. Dec. 2019.