Northwest Territories (NT) eviction guide
Quick answer
NT evictions go through the NWT Rental Office (Rental Officer). The landlord files an eviction application (fee: $100 CAD for landlords); the Rental Officer holds a hearing and issues an order that carries the force of a Supreme Court order. The Sheriff enforces removal after a writ of possession is obtained. Self-help eviction is illegal.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment or repeated late payment of rent, breach of tenancy agreement, property damage, disturbance/safety risk, or landlord/close-family occupancy |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 10 days (cause/breach); 30 days (monthly tenancy termination); 90 days (landlord personal use) |
| Where to file | NWT Rental Office, Yellowknife |
| Filing fee | $100 CAD (landlord); $20 CAD (tenant); free for subsidized housing or domestic violence cases |
| Typical timeframe | 6 to 12 weeks from notice to Sheriff enforcement |
Covers repeated nonpayment or late rent, property damage, disturbance, safety violations, or breach of the tenancy agreement.
Given on or before the last day of the month, effective the last day of the following rental month, for non-cause periodic terminations.
Required when the landlord or a close relative intends to occupy the unit; must state the relationship and intended occupancy date.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve written termination notice | Day 1 | Deliver written notice stating the premises address, reason for termination, and effective date; the reason must be a valid ground under the Act. |
| 2. Wait out the notice period | 10 to 90 days depending on ground | The tenancy remains in effect through the notice period; do not take any self-help steps to remove the tenant. |
| 3. Apply to the Rental Officer for an eviction order | After notice expires and tenant has not vacated | File an application with the NWT Rental Office in Yellowknife with the $100 fee; the Rental Officer schedules a hearing and gives the tenant at least 5 days notice. |
| 4. Attend the Rental Officer hearing | Within weeks of filing | The Rental Officer hears both sides and issues an eviction order if the ground is proven; the order has the same force as a Supreme Court judgment. |
| 5. File writ of possession with the Supreme Court | Within 6 months of order | The landlord prepares an affidavit of non-compliance and files it with the Clerk of the NWT Supreme Court along with the writ of possession form and $35 fee. |
| 6. Sheriff enforces removal | Days to weeks after writ is issued | The landlord delivers the eviction order and writ to the Sheriff personally; the Sheriff makes demand for entry and may use force if the tenant refuses to leave. |
The Rental Office application fee is $100 CAD for landlords ($20 for tenants; free for subsidized housing or domestic-violence cases). Filing the writ of possession with the Supreme Court Clerk costs $35 CAD, plus the Sheriff's expenses and deposit (variable by circumstance).
Once the NWT Rental Officer issues an eviction order, the landlord has 6 months to file it with the Clerk of the NWT Supreme Court to obtain a writ of possession. The Sheriff then carries out physical removal; the landlord must deliver both documents to the Sheriff personally and pay a deposit for expenses. Changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities before a writ is enforced by the Sheriff constitutes an illegal self-help eviction.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Residential Tenancies Act, RSNWT 1988, c. R-5. Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Northwest Territories eviction FAQ
The **NWT Rental Office** (a Rental Officer) adjudicates eviction applications. The Rental Officer's orders carry the same weight as a Supreme Court order.
Landlords pay **$100 CAD**. Tenants pay **$20 CAD**. There is no fee for tenants in subsidized housing or domestic-violence situations.
From serving notice to Sheriff enforcement typically takes **6 to 12 weeks**, assuming no appeals and prompt filing with the Supreme Court.
No. Self-help eviction is illegal. Only the **Sheriff** may physically remove a tenant, and only after a writ of possession has been properly issued and filed.
Yes. A tenant may appeal to the **NWT Supreme Court** within the time period set by the Act; however, filing the appeal does not automatically stay enforcement of the order.
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