Northwest Territories Landlord Disclosures: Legal Requirements

Under the Northwest Territories Residential Tenancies Act, landlords are required to provide specific documents and information to tenants. These required disclosures establish transparency and provide a baseline for the tenancy.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed attorney in the Northwest Territories for advice specific to your situation. Information last verified: March 2026.

1. Written Tenancy Agreement

If a landlord and tenant enter into a written tenancy agreement (a lease), the landlord must provide the tenant with a copy of the fully signed agreement within 14 days of the tenant signing it and returning it to the landlord.

This agreement must include essential components like:

• The names of the landlord and tenant.
• The address of the rental unit.
• The date the tenancy begins.
• Whether the tenancy is fixed-term or periodic (e.g., month-to-month).
• The amount of rent and when it is due.
• Services or facilities included in the rent (e.g., heat, electricity, parking).
• Specific rules, provided they do not override the Residential Tenancies Act.

2. Condition Inspection Reports (Crucial)

Recent amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act have made condition inspection reports a significant requirement for landlords who wish to protect their property and hold tenants accountable for damages.

Move-In Inspection

The landlord and tenant MUST complete a written inspection report documenting the condition of the rental premises at the start of the tenancy.

• This is typically completed when the tenant takes possession or shortly before or after.
• Both parties must sign the report, and the landlord must provide a copy to the tenant.

Move-Out Inspection

A second written inspection report MUST be completed at the end of the tenancy when the tenant vacates.

• This forms the basis for comparing the final condition to the initial condition.

Failure to Complete Reports: If a landlord fails to meet the requirement to complete either the move-in or the move-out inspection report, their ability to successfully claim deductions from the security deposit for property damage through the Rental Officer is significantly diminished.

3. Notices of Rent Increase

If a landlord wishes to increase the rent (which they may only do once every 12 months), they are required to disclose this intent formally.

• The landlord must issue a written Notice of Rent Increase to the tenant.
• This notice must be provided at least three months before the date the rent increase is scheduled to take effect.

4. Subsidized Housing Disclosures

For tenancies involving public or subsidized housing (managed by the NWT Housing Corporation or local housing authorities), there are additional disclosure requirements regarding tenant income and eligibility, as rent is often geared to income. Tenants are required to disclose their income, and landlords must clearly communicate how rent is calculated based on those disclosures.

How Landager Helps

Landager simplifies documentation management for NWT landlords. Our platform allows landlords to securely store digital copies of fully signed leases, track the completion of condition inspection reports, and schedule automated reminders to send the required three-month notices for rent increases.

Back to Northwest Territories Landlord-Tenant Laws Overview.