Government of Saskatchewan ministries, Crown corporations and organizations are implementing contingency plans to minimize the impacts of postal service disruption.
Office of Residential Tenancies
The ORT introduction video is also available in the following languages:
Amharic, Arabic,
ASL, Azerbaijani, Burmese, Cantonese,
Cree,
Dene,
Ewe,
French,
German, Gujarati, Hindi, Karen, Korean,
Mandarin,
Patois,
Pidgin,
Polish,
Punjabi,
Romanian,
Russian,
Spanish,
Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Turkish,
Ukrainian,
Urdu,
Vietnamese and Yoruba.
The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) is an agency independent of government that provides information about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants in Saskatchewan. When landlords and tenants cannot resolve disputes on their own, both have the right to ask the ORT to make rulings and settle the dispute. The ORT is independent, free from outside influence, and impartially decides applications without favour for either landlords or tenants.
The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and The Residential Tenancies Regulations, 2007 balance the needs of tenants for safe, secure and habitable living accommodations and the needs of landlords to conduct a viable business and protect their property investment.
Jurisdiction
The ORT has jurisdiction over most residential tenancies in Saskatchewan, and it may adjudicate matters up to $30,000. The ORT does NOT have jurisdiction over the following:
- living accommodation that includes use for business purposes under a single agreement;
- living accommodation in a hotel, motel, motor hotel, resort, lodge, tourist camp, cottage, cabin, trailer, tourist home, bed and breakfast, farm vacation home or hostel, if a tenant is there for less than six consecutive months;
- crisis or emergency shelters;
- living accommodations designated under The Provincial Authority Act;
- personal care homes licensed under The Personal Care Homes Act;
- facilities or homes defined in The Mental Health Services Act;
- living accommodation located on a property that is being farmed by the renter;
- living accommodation provided by the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Young Women’s Christian Association, or The Salvation Army;
- living accommodation rented either for the life of a tenant or over 20 years; and
- prescribed tenancy agreements, such as living accommodation provided by an educational institution and the Oxford House Society of Regina Inc.
Commercial tenancies fall under The Landlord and Tenant Act.
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1. ORT News and Notices
The ORT has a public online portal that allows residential landlords and tenants to login using their business or individual Saskatchewan Account to create notices; submit applications, evidence, photos and other documents; and make payments 24 hours a day. By using the online portal, you will have immediate access to and know the current status of your submission(s). The portal also provides access to notices and applications approved by the ORT Director.
Rent Arrears and Monetary Claims
A landlord may claim any outstanding rent or utility arrears at the time of a possession hearing for rent and/or utility arrears, along with the filing fee.
Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations: On September 15, 2021, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, 2021 and The Residential Tenancies Amendment Regulations, 2021 came into force.
Clinics
The ORT runs two virtual information clinics for the public. One provides general information on the ORT and the legal rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The second is a focused virtual information clinic on the online portal.
If you would like to attend an information clinic, send an email using the link below and indicate which information session you would like to attend. You may also book group virtual sessions if that is preferred. For group virtual sessions, we are able to accommodate clinics in English, French, Korean, and Yoruba. If a cultural association would like a presentation in their language, the ORT would be happy to co-facilitate the clinic with a translator from that association.
Non-Compliant List
If you have an outstanding order against a landlord or tenant and the 30-day appeal period has expired, you can contact the ORT by email with the necessary details, and the ORT may place the party on the non-compliance list as per The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006:
70(14) The director may refuse to issue a written notice of hearing to, and a hearing officer may decline to make an order respecting, a landlord who: (a) is in contravention of an order made pursuant to this Act; or (b) has failed to forward a security deposit and any accrued interest to the director pursuant to section 33.
70(14.1) The director may refuse to issue a written notice of hearing to, and a hearing officer may decline to make an order respecting, a tenant who is in contravention of an order that was previously made pursuant to this Act and that is currently in force.
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2. Additional Information for Tenants and Landlords
Tenancy Agreements
Learn the difference between verbal and written tenancy agreements and more about fixed-term tenancies.
Security Deposits
Learn about security deposit amounts, how landlords must claim a security deposit, how a tenant may dispute a landlord’s claim, and the security deposit hearing process.
Rent Increases
Learn about timelines for rent increases based on tenancy type.
Repairs and Maintenance
Learn landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities towards repairs and maintenance of a rental property. This includes bed bugs and pest information, as well as cleaning at the end of a tenancy.
Notice of Entry
Learn about timelines for notices of entry and specific rules around notices of entry.
Ending a Tenancy
Learn about the different notices landlords and tenants may serve on each other to end periodic and fixed term tenancies.
Property Left Behind by a Tenant
Learn about the responsibilities of landlords and tenants when property is left behind after a tenant moves out.
Dispute Resolution and the Hearing Process
Learn about early dispute resolution services at the ORT, applications, service of documents, evidence, the hearing process, and decisions.
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3. Online Portal: Notices and Applications
ORT notices and applications are available through the ORT’s online portal. The online portal will also take you to all applications and notices you have created, submitted or linked to, 24/7 from any computer or smartphone.
A Saskatchewan Account is required to access the ORT’s online portal. New users will need to register.
- Create an organization account if you are a business landlord.
- Create an individual account if you are an individual landlord, tenant or their power of attorney.
*Please note that the business landlord organization account should be created by the owner/director of the business. Employees can then be invited to submit on behalf of the business.
Once you are registered for a Saskatchewan Account, you must then link the Office of Residential Tenancies service card. Once linked, select ‘Use Service’ under that service card, then select ‘Access Office of Residential Tenancies’ under ‘Tasks’. You will then be on the ORT’s online portal.
Online ORT Public Access
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4. Leases and Other Documents
To create a notice; submit an application; or submit evidence, photos and other documents related to an application; visit section 3 to use the ORT's online portal. If you require an accommodation, please contact the ORT at ORT@gov.sk.ca or call 306-519-6662 during regular business hours.
Find sample leases and other documents from the ORT.
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5. ORT Decisions
Decisions made under The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the Act) are available on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website.
Search tip:
ORT decisions are located under Saskatchewan's Boards and Tribunals as SKORT. Select SKORT, then in the search areas at the top of the page, type in the text you are seeking further information on.
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7. Resources
Resources for Tenants or Landlords
If you are a residential landlord or a tenant and you are looking for additional information or support, there are resources that may be able to help.
Follow the links below to understand what type of assistance that may be available and where you can find it.
Appeal of a Hearing Officer’s Decision
If you wish to appeal a decision made by a hearing officer, decisions can be appealed to the Court of King’s Bench.
Please select the court location closest to where you live for local contact information about how to appeal ORT’s decision and process for Court of King’s Bench:
Court Locations and Sitting Times - Saskatchewan Courts
Enforcement of a Hearing Officer’s Decision or Writ of Possession
Writs of Possession are enforced by the Sheriff. If you have questions about enforcing a writ of possession, contact your local Sheriff’s Office. To find the Sheriff’s Office closest to you, choose the nearest judicial centre at this link: Court Locations and Sitting Times - Saskatchewan Courts
If the hearing officer’s decision included a monetary award and you wish to register the decision and learn more about steps to enforce the decision, please visit Enforcing Orders - Saskatchewan Courts
Legal Resources
Saskatchewan Landlord Association (SKLA) represents residential landlords in Saskatchewan.
Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan provides free legal advice to low-income clients in Saskatchewan.
Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc. (CLASSIC) provides a free advice session to residents of the Saskatoon area who have legal issues in the areas of criminal, family, or civil law.
Concerns with the Office of Residential Tenancies
Ombudsman Saskatchewan takes complaints about provincial government ministries and agencies. Contact the Ombudsman’s office for more information about how to file a complaint.
Housing Support
Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement (SRHS) provides information about rental housing supplement program for individuals with low-to-moderate income and for individuals living with disabilities.
Social Housing Program provides safe and adequate housing to families and seniors with low incomes and people with disabilities.
Crisis Support
211 Saskatchewan offers a database of over 6,000 community, social, non-clinical health, and government services across our province. You can also call or text 211 to be connected with Service Navigators ready to help 24/7/365.
If you are the victim of interpersonal violence, Victim Services provides victims crisis intervention, information, support, and referrals to other specialized programs and services.
If you require mental health support, please visit Mental Health Services for a list of community-based contact information and resources.
Other Resources
For information about social services in Saskatchewan, visit: Find a Social Services Office.
For information on condominiums, please visit Condominiums in the Publications Centre.
If you require more information on condominiums, please contact Office of Public Registry Administration at condos@gov.sk.ca or 306-798-1079.
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission provides information about discrimination and harassment and your rights.
Safer Communities And Neighbourhoods (SCAN) provides resources and contact information to file a report if you have concerns about possible illegal activities in your neighbourhood.