Relatively Unknown Reasons for Rental Eviction

A tenant can be evicted for not paying rent or engaging in an illegal act. But there are also some not-so-obvious reasons that a landlord can terminate tenancy.

A tenant can be given notice because the landlord will be demolishing the unit/property, converting it to non-residential use or substantially renovating it. This requires the landlord to provide 120 days notice.

When renovation is the reason for eviction, the tenant can choose to move back into the unit/property upon completion. The rent must be the same as it was before the tenancy was terminated. However, before moving out, the tenant must inform the landlord in writing of their intent to re-occupy, otherwise the landlord can refuse.

A landlord may terminate a tenancy if the rental unit/property is needed for use by the landlord, the landlord’s spouse, a child or parent of either the landlord or their spouse, or a person who provides or will provide care services to the landlord or their family. Occupation by any of these parties must be for at least one year. Sixty days notice is required by the landlord.

Another reason for termination is the landlord has entered into an Agreement of Purchase and Sale for the rental unit/property and the unit/property is needed by the purchaser, the purchaser’s spouse, a child or parent of one of them, or a person who provides or will provide care services to the purchaser or purchaser’s family. The termination notice is 60 days.

In each of these cases, eviction takes place the final day of a rental period (for example, the last day of a month) or in the case of a fixed term lease, the end of the term. As well, upon receiving an eviction notice, the tenant is allowed to terminate the tenancy at an earlier date provided 10 days written notice is given to the landlord.