Alberta landlords can ask for a security deposit of up to one month's rent. Work out the limit for your rent and the interest owed.
Largest total deposit allowed
$1,800.00
The most a landlord can ask for is $1,800.00. The 2026 interest rate is 0%, so no interest builds up this year.
| Deposit limit | Up to one month's rent at the time the tenancy starts. The deposit cannot be raised later, even when the rent goes up. It must go into an interest-bearing trust account in Alberta within two banking days. |
|---|---|
| Pet deposits | A refundable pet or key deposit counts as part of the security deposit, so everything together cannot pass one month's rent. A non-refundable pet fee written into the lease is treated as rent. |
| Interest | The rate is set each year from an ATB Financial GIC rate minus 3 percentage points. It is 0% for 2026. Earlier years still earn their own rates: 0.5% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2024. Interest is paid every year unless both sides agree in writing to pay it at the end. |
| Returning the deposit | Within 10 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord returns the deposit with interest, or the balance with a statement of deductions. If deductions are not known yet, the final statement is due within 30 days. |
| Disputes | Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service |
The calculator multiplies the monthly rent by the fraction of a month the province allows and rounds down to the cent. It then shows one year of interest at the 2026 rate.
Largest security deposit = monthly rent x 1, rounded down to the centOne year of interest = total deposit x 0 / 100Say the rent is $1,800 a month.
| Step | How | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | $1,800 x 1 | $1,800.00 |
| Largest total deposit | Same as above | $1,800.00 |
| One year of interest | $1,800.00 x 0 / 100 | $0.00 |
The most a landlord can ask for is $1,800.00. The 2026 interest rate is 0%, so no interest builds up this year.
This page explains the general rules for private rentals and is not legal advice. Rules differ for some kinds of housing, and they change. For a specific situation, check with the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service.
Checked against these official sources on September 27, 2026:
Up to one month's rent at the time the tenancy starts. The deposit cannot be raised later, even when the rent goes up. It must go into an interest-bearing trust account in Alberta within two banking days.
A refundable pet or key deposit counts as part of the security deposit, so everything together cannot pass one month's rent. A non-refundable pet fee written into the lease is treated as rent.
The rate is set each year from an ATB Financial GIC rate minus 3 percentage points. It is 0% for 2026. Earlier years still earn their own rates: 0.5% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2024. Interest is paid every year unless both sides agree in writing to pay it at the end.
Within 10 days after the tenant moves out, the landlord returns the deposit with interest, or the balance with a statement of deductions. If deductions are not known yet, the final statement is due within 30 days.
Find the earliest date a month-to-month tenancy can end when a tenant gives notice, under your province's rules.
Open the calculatorTurn your monthly rental inquiries into staff hours, full-time people and cost, so you can see what answering leads takes.
Open the calculatorWork back from a target occupancy date to the leases, tours and inquiries you need every week.
Open the calculatorEvery calculator we have built for property managers and leasing teams, in one place.
See all toolsQuickCasa answers every rental inquiry around the clock, asks your qualifying questions and books tours, so your team meets renters who fit before any deposit changes hands.