A WestNet News investigation has documented a growing pattern of so-called renovictions in Calgary, where tenants are served eviction notices for building renovations, only to find their former units re-listed weeks later at significantly higher rents — in some cases more than double what they were paying.
Through interviews with 23 displaced tenants, a review of rental listings, and analysis of Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service records, WestNet News identified at least eight Calgary buildings where the renovation-eviction pattern has played out since January 2024.
Tenant Stories
Maria Santos, a single mother of two who was paying $1,150 per month for a two-bedroom apartment in Beltline, said she received a 90-day eviction notice in March 2025 citing "major renovations." Three months after moving out, she found her former unit listed on Rentfaster for $2,200.
"They painted the walls, put in new countertops, and doubled the rent," Santos said. "That’s not a major renovation — that’s a way to get rid of tenants who are paying below market rate."
Regulatory Gaps
Unlike British Columbia and Ontario, Alberta does not have specific legislation governing renovictions. The Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to provide notice for renovations that require vacant possession, but there is no requirement that tenants be offered the right to return at their previous rent, nor any penalty for landlords who misrepresent the scope of planned work.
"Alberta’s tenant protection framework is among the weakest in Canada," said John Dickinson, executive director of the Calgary Tenants’ Rights Association. "There’s essentially no consequence for a landlord who uses a renovation notice as a pretext to raise rents."
The Alberta government said it is "monitoring the housing situation" but has not committed to legislative changes. Housing Minister Jason Nixon said the government’s focus is on increasing supply rather than adding regulations. Tenant advocates argue both approaches are needed simultaneously.
