Nunavut (NU) eviction guide
Quick answer
Nunavut evictions go through the Nunavut Rental Office (Rental Officer). Nonpayment and most cause-based evictions require a 10-day notice; periodic tenancies require 30 to 60 days. The landlord filing fee is $100 CAD (tenant fee: $20 CAD). The Sheriff enforces removal after a writ of possession is registered with the Nunavut Court of Justice. Self-help eviction is illegal.
| Legal grounds | Repeated nonpayment of rent on due dates, missing security deposit, property damage, disturbance/safety risk, or landlord/close-family occupancy |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 10 days (cause/nonpayment); 30 days (monthly tenancy under 12 months); 60 days (monthly tenancy over 12 months); 90 days (landlord personal use) |
| Where to file | Nunavut Rental Office, Iqaluit (nu-rto.ca) |
| Filing fee | $100 CAD (landlord); $20 CAD (tenant); free for subsidized housing or domestic violence cases |
| Typical timeframe | 6 to 14 weeks from notice to Sheriff enforcement, depending on remoteness and scheduling |
Used for repeated nonpayment of rent on the due dates specified in the tenancy agreement, failure to pay the security deposit, property damage, or disturbance/safety violations.
Required to end a monthly periodic tenancy without cause; notice must be given before the last day of the month with the corresponding period of notice.
Required when the landlord or a close family member genuinely intends to occupy the rental unit; must state the intended occupant's relationship to the landlord.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve written termination notice | Day 1 | Deliver a signed, written notice stating the specific reason for termination, the address of the premises, and the date the tenant must vacate. |
| 2. Wait out the notice period | 10 days to 90 days depending on ground | The tenancy continues through the notice period; do not lock out the tenant or remove their belongings. |
| 3. Apply to the Rental Officer for an eviction order | After notice expires and tenant has not left | File an application with the Nunavut Rental Office (nu-rto.ca) with the $100 landlord fee; applications can also be submitted in person in Iqaluit. |
| 4. Rental Officer investigation and hearing | Weeks after filing; hearings often held by telephone | The Rental Officer investigates, may inspect the premises, attempts mediation, then holds a hearing; both parties are notified at least 5 days in advance. |
| 5. Receive eviction order | Days after hearing | If granted, the Rental Officer issues an eviction order, which may be enforced by the Nunavut Court of Justice; a tenant may appeal to the Court within 14 days. |
| 6. File writ of possession and Sheriff enforcement | Within 6 months of order; Sheriff acts within days to weeks | The landlord files the eviction order with the Clerk of the Nunavut Court of Justice to obtain a writ of possession, then delivers both documents to the Sheriff for physical enforcement. |
The Rental Office application fee is $100 CAD for landlords ($20 for tenants; free for subsidized housing or domestic-violence cases). Additional court filing and Sheriff enforcement fees apply when the writ of possession stage is reached; exact amounts vary by community.
Once the Rental Officer issues an eviction order, the landlord must register it with the Clerk of the Nunavut Court of Justice within 6 months to obtain a writ of possession. The Nunavut Sheriff then physically removes the tenant; the landlord delivers the order and writ to the Sheriff personally. Changing locks, removing a tenant's belongings, cutting utilities, or otherwise forcing a tenant out without a Sheriff-executed writ constitutes an illegal self-help eviction.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Residential Tenancies Act, RSNWT (Nu) 1988, c. R-5. Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Nunavut eviction FAQ
The **Nunavut Rental Office** (a Rental Officer) adjudicates eviction applications; its orders are enforceable by the Nunavut Court of Justice.
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 14 weeks**; remote communities can extend this significantly due to logistics and scheduling.
Yes. A landlord or tenant may appeal to the **Nunavut Court of Justice within 14 days** of the Rental Officer's decision.
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in Nunavut. The landlord must obtain an eviction order from the Rental Officer and a writ from the Court, then the **Sheriff** carries out removal.
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