Yukon Rent Late Fees: What Landlords Can and Cannot Charge

Late fees are strictly regulated under Yukon's residential tenancy law. The Residential Tenancies Act (effective 1 September 2025) and its associated regulations govern the fees a landlord may charge. Under the current framework, landlords are prohibited from charging late fees for rent that is paid after the due date.

Late Fee Rules at a Glance

Are Late Fees Enforceable in Yukon?

No. Late fees are not permitted under the Residential Tenancies Act. The Act and its regulations explicitly list the fees a landlord is allowed to charge (such as NSF fees and key replacement costs), and general late payment penalties are excluded from this list. Any provision in a tenancy agreement that requires a tenant to pay a penalty for late rent is invalid.

Instead of charging a fee, landlords are expected to use the formal non-payment of rent procedure to ensure compliance.

NSF (Bounced Cheque) Fees

While late fees are prohibited, landlords may charge an administrative fee for cheques or electronic payments returned for non-sufficient funds (NSF), provided the fee is stipulated in the tenancy agreement.

• Maximum administrative fee: $25.00
• Additional recovery: The landlord may also charge the actual amount of the service fee charged to the landlord by their financial institution.

Non-Payment of Rent: Formal Procedure

When rent is overdue, the formal landlord remedy under the Residential Tenancies Act is:

1. Serve a Notice of Unpaid Rent — The landlord may serve this notice as soon as the rent is one day late.
2. Allow a 5-day cure period — The tenant has 5 days from when they receive the notice to pay all outstanding rent in full.
3. Issue a 14-Day Notice to End Tenancy — If the tenant does not pay within the 5-day period, the landlord may then issue a formal 14-Day Notice to End Tenancy.
4. Apply to the RTO — If the tenant does not vacate or pay, the landlord must apply to the Residential Tenancies Office for an Order of Possession.

If the tenant pays in full during the 5-day cure period, the notice is void and the tenancy continues.

Prohibited Fees

The following fees are strictly prohibited in Yukon:

• Application fees — Charging to process a rental application or screen a tenant.
• General Late Fees — Any penalty for paying rent after the due date.
• Guest Fees — Charging for guests, even if they stay overnight.
• Initial Key Fees — Charging for the first set of keys or access devices.

Security Deposit vs. Late Fees

A security deposit cannot be used to pay for unauthorized fees. Because late fees are prohibited, a landlord cannot deduct them from a security deposit, even at the end of the tenancy. The deposit may only be used for unpaid rent, utilities, or damage beyond normal wear and tear, and only with the tenant's written consent or an RTO order.

How to Stay Compliant

1. Remove late fee clauses — Ensure your tenancy agreements do not contain illegal late fee provisions.
2. Specify NSF fees — If you wish to recover bank charges for bounced cheques, include the $25 administrative fee in the lease.
3. Follow the 5-day procedure — Use the formal Notice of Unpaid Rent process for late payers.
4. Return deposits on time — You must return security deposits within 15 days of the tenancy ending or receiving the forwarding address.
5. Use RTO Forms — Always use the official government-approved forms for all notices and agreements.

Elevate Your Yukon Property Management

Adhering to Yukon's Residential Tenancies Act requires a precise and highly resilient operational strategy. Overlooking the 15-day security deposit return deadline, the 3-month rent increase notice period, or the 5-day cure period for unpaid rent can result in significant financial penalties and loss of possession rights. Landager delivers a streamlined, comprehensive property management solution that automates these key compliance workflows. From tracking the exact delivery times for formal notices to managing your entire Yukon portfolio in compliance with the 2025 Act, Landager empowers landlords in Whitehorse and beyond to maximize efficiency and eliminate compliance vulnerabilities.

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