Notice of Landlord's Claim for Security Deposit: Filing Within 7 Business Days

To keep any part of a deposit in Saskatchewan, a landlord must, within seven business days after the tenant moves out, return the unclaimed part and serve a Notice of Landlord's Claim for Security Deposit in the approved form, then hold the claimed part in trust for 30 days (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s.32(1)).

This how-to is for Saskatchewan landlords at move-out. For deposit limits and interest, see Saskatchewan Security Deposits.

What do you need before you claim?

• The move-out date you know of, because the seven business days run from when you knew, or should reasonably have known, that the tenant left (s.32(1)).
• Evidence for each amount: condition reports, dated photos, invoices or the rent ledger. Reasonable wear and tear is not the tenant's to repair (s.49(7)).
• Each tenant's forwarding address, postal or email (s.32(1.1)).
• A Saskatchewan Account to file the claim in the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) online portal (saskatchewan.ca, Security Deposits).

How do you file and serve the claim?

1. Return the part you are not claiming, with any interest owed on it (s.32(1)(b)(i)).
2. Complete the notice of claim in the ORT portal within seven business days.
3. Serve it on every tenant at the forwarding address they gave, by personal service, ordinary mail or email (s.32(2)(a); saskatchewan.ca). If a tenant left no forwarding address, service is not required (s.32(2)(b)).
4. Keep the claimed money in your trust account for 30 days from the end of the tenancy (s.32(1)(b)(iii)).

How do you count the seven business days?

A business day is any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday (s.2(a.1)), and the count starts the day after you knew, or should reasonably have known, that the tenant had left. Say a tenant hands back the keys on Friday, November 27, 2026. Day one is Monday, November 30, and day seven is Tuesday, December 8. By the end of that day the unclaimed balance should be paid and the notice of claim served. If a holiday falls inside the window, skip it and the deadline moves back a day.

When is a notice of claim not needed?

When the tenancy ends and the tenant agrees in writing that you may keep all or part of the deposit, and you have paid them the rest with any interest, section 32 does not apply (s.32(4)). A signed move-out statement that names the amount kept is the simplest record. What a lease cannot do is say in advance that the landlord will automatically keep some or all of the deposit at the end; the ORT says that term is not allowed (saskatchewan.ca, Security Deposits).

If the deposit was guaranteed under The Saskatchewan Assistance Act, the notice goes to the Director of Residential Tenancies rather than to the tenant, and the minister responsible tells the tenant of their rights (s.32(3)).

Interest is only payable on tenancies longer than five years, and stops accruing 30 days after the tenancy ends (saskatchewan.ca, Security Deposits).

What happens if the tenant disputes it?

A claim is not scheduled for a hearing unless the tenant disputes it and pays the $50 fee, which the tenant can do within 60 days of the tenancy end (s.33(2); saskatchewan.ca, Settling Disputes). If they do, the ORT sends you a pay-in amount and deadline; the Act gives 10 business days after you receive the ORT's notice (s.33(5)). If your claim amount has changed, send the ORT the updated claim form by email (saskatchewan.ca, Security Deposits). Miss the pay-in and the ORT may order the deposit paid to the tenant without a hearing (s.33(8)).

The hearing itself is by phone; ORT Hearings in Saskatchewan explains how it runs.

Frequently asked questions

What if I miss the seven business days?

A hearing officer must order the deposit returned unless exceptional circumstances prevented compliance and that would be grossly inequitable (s.34(1), (3)).

Can a claim without grounds cost me?

Yes. You can be ordered to pay the tenant's costs of $50 to $200 (s.34(4); Regulations s.13.1).

Can I deduct after a renovation or demolition notice?

Only for unpaid rent and utilities (s.32(5)).

More help is in the Canadian Landlord Resource Center and the Saskatchewan Landlord Guide.