Northwest Territories (NT) law guide
Quick answer
The NWT Residential Tenancies Act caps security deposits at one month's rent and allows a pet damage deposit of up to 50% of monthly rent. There is no prescribed rent increase guideline in the NWT, but landlords must give three months' written notice before any increase and can only raise rent once every 12 months. All evictions require an order from the NWT Rental Officer, and landlords cannot physically remove a tenant without a writ of possession from the NWT Supreme Court.
Security deposit rules
Maximum one month's rent. Must be held in trust. Returned within 10 days of move-out with interest. Pet deposit allowed up to 50% of monthly rent.
Rent control
No prescribed guideline. Landlords may increase rent once per 12 months with three full months' written notice. No cap on the amount of the increase.
Tribunal/board
NWT Rental Office (Rental Officer). Phone: 1-867-767-9256 ext. 82457. Email: [email protected]. Website: justice.gov.nt.ca.
Nonpayment notice
Landlord applies to the Rental Officer for an eviction order. For repeated failure to pay rent on time, a landlord may seek termination with 10 days' notice or less (s.54(1)(g)).
Northwest Territories rental market snapshot
Population
~44,000 (2024 est.)
Renter households
~41%
Median rent
$1,950
Largest rental markets
Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Smith
Yellowknife accounts for roughly half the territory's population. The government-dominated economy and remote geography keep rental supply extremely limited, making NWT one of Canada's highest-cost small markets. Public and staff housing is common in smaller communities.
A security deposit in the NWT cannot exceed one month's rent (or one week's rent for weekly tenancies). Landlords must provide a receipt and place the funds in a trust account within two banking days of receiving them. A separate pet damage deposit of up to 50% of monthly rent is permitted.
The landlord must return the deposit with interest within 10 days of the tenant vacating, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Deposits may only be applied to unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, not routine cleaning or maintenance.
The NWT has no prescribed rent increase cap or annual guideline. Landlords may increase rent as often as once every 12 months, but must give three full months' written notice before the increase takes effect. Rent increases are generally not permitted during a fixed-term tenancy unless the agreement explicitly allows it.
Tenants who receive a valid rent increase notice have the right to treat the notice as a termination notice and vacate at the end of the notice period without penalty. There is no mechanism for challenging the amount of the increase through the Rental Officer.
Landlords in the NWT cannot evict a tenant without a formal order from the NWT Rental Officer. There is no self-help eviction. For repeated failure to pay rent on time, a landlord may apply to the Rental Officer for an eviction order on 10 days' notice or less under section 54(1)(g) of the Act. For most other grounds, standard termination notice periods apply.
Once the Rental Officer issues an eviction order, the landlord must file it with the NWT Supreme Court and obtain a writ of possession. The Sheriff's office then carries out the physical eviction. Appealing a Rental Officer order requires an application to the NWT Supreme Court.
Landlords must provide written notice at least 24 hours in advance before entering a rental unit. Entry is only permitted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. for inspections, showings, or non-emergency maintenance. Emergency entry to address an urgent situation requires no advance notice.
Landlords are required to keep the rental unit in a good state of repair, fit for habitation, and in compliance with applicable health and safety standards. Tenants must report damage promptly and keep the unit reasonably clean.
Tenants are protected from discrimination under the NWT Human Rights Act, which covers grounds including race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, and social condition. Landlords cannot refuse to rent or impose different terms based on any of these grounds.
Tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of their unit. The Rental Officer can award remedies including rent abatements if a landlord fails to maintain the unit, harasses a tenant, or otherwise breaches the Act.
The NWT requires that all tenancy agreements include essential terms. The government provides a standard Tenancy Agreement form under the Residential Tenancies Act, available from the NWT Justice Department. Both fixed-term and periodic (month-to-month) leases are valid. A fixed-term lease that expires without proper termination notice generally continues as a month-to-month tenancy.
Fair housing complaints are handled by the NWT Human Rights Commission. Landlords who advertise or impose discriminatory conditions may face orders for compensation and compliance.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Residential Tenancies Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. R-5. Laws change; confirm the current statute or consult an attorney before acting. Last reviewed 2026-06-06.
Northwest Territories FAQ
No. The NWT has **no prescribed rent increase guideline or cap**. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, but they must give **three full months' written notice** and can only increase rent once every 12 months.
Landlords cannot evict a tenant without a formal order from the **NWT Rental Officer**. For repeated failure to pay rent on time, a landlord may apply to the Rental Officer under s.54(1)(g) and seek an order with **10 days' notice or less**. Once an order is granted, it must be registered with the NWT Supreme Court and executed by the Sheriff.
The security deposit cannot exceed **one month's rent** (or one week's rent for weekly tenancies). A separate **pet damage deposit of up to 50% of monthly rent** is also permitted. All deposits must be placed in trust within two banking days and returned within 10 days of move-out.
The **NWT Rental Office** and its Rental Officer handle all disputes, including deposit claims, rent increases, maintenance failures, and eviction orders. Decisions carry the same force as a Supreme Court order. Contact: 1-867-767-9256 ext. 82457 or [email protected].
Landlords cannot use pet ownership as a reason to refuse tenancy during rental agreement negotiations. However, a landlord may collect a **pet damage deposit of up to 50% of monthly rent** to cover potential pet-related damage.
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