Something gone wrong?
My landlord kept my deposit
First, figure out what kind of deposit it was — the rules differ dramatically by province, and in a couple of provinces the deposit shouldn't have been collected at all. Second, note the deadline: several provinces put a hard clock on the landlord to return it or make a claim. Third, if the deadline has passed, your provincial tribunal is where the deposit is recovered.
If you're in Ontario, start here
Ontario does not permit security deposits at all — only a last month's rent deposit and a key deposit are allowed. If you paid a "damage" or "security" deposit, that money may have been collected illegally in the first place. The question isn't just whether you get it back; it's whether it should ever have been charged.
The deadline, province by province
Ontario
Security deposits are not permitted. Only a last month's rent deposit (applied to your final month) and a key deposit (actual replacement cost) are allowed. A charged "security" deposit may have been illegal to collect.
British Columbia
The landlord has 15 days from receiving your forwarding address in writing to return the deposit or file a claim against it. Miss that without filing, and the landlord may be ordered to pay "double the amount of the deposit(s)." Deposit interest compounds annually at a rate set each year. A tenant's direct request application is available 20 days after the tenancy ends and the forwarding address is given.
Alberta
A security deposit is capped at one month's rent. The landlord must return it within 10 days if there are no deductions, or within 30 days with an itemized statement of any deductions.
Quebec
Security deposits of any kind are prohibited in Quebec. A landlord cannot lawfully require one, so a "deposit" being withheld is itself outside the rules.
Manitoba
A security deposit is capped at half a month's rent and must be held in trust, with interest owed to the tenant.
Did you do a condition report?
A move-in / move-out inspection report is what a deposit dispute usually turns on. In British Columbia, if the landlord did not complete the required inspection, that can cost them the right to claim against the deposit. In Manitoba, a signed condition report is required. Where you have a report, it is the evidence; where one is missing, that absence often works against whoever needed it to prove damage.
Other provinces
Deposit rules and return deadlines differ across the remaining provinces and are set by each provincial tribunal. Start with yours for the current deadline and the application to recover a deposit.
Common Questions
Is a security deposit even legal in Ontario?
No. Security deposits are not permitted in Ontario — a landlord may collect only a last month’s rent deposit and a key deposit (the actual replacement cost). If you were charged a "damage" or "security" deposit, it may have been collected illegally, and that changes the question from "will I get it back" to "was it allowed at all."
How long does a landlord have to return a deposit in BC?
In British Columbia the landlord has 15 days from the day they receive your forwarding address in writing (the clock starts at the forwarding address, not when the tenancy ends) to either return the deposit or file a claim against it. If they do neither, the RTB may order the landlord to pay you double the amount of the deposit(s).
What can I do if my landlord won’t return it?
The route is your provincial tribunal — in BC a tenant can make a direct request application, available 20 days after the tenancy ends and the forwarding address is given. Each province has its own application and deadline; the tribunal for your province is linked on this page.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. Deposit rights depend on your province and your facts — for advice, contact your provincial residential-tenancy tribunal or a legal clinic. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.