If your landlord sold the house in Saskatchewan, your tenancy carries on with the new owner. You can be asked to leave only on a month-to-month (periodic) tenancy, only after the sale's conditions are met, and only if the buyer asks in writing because they or close family will live there. That notice gives at least one month (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, s.60(6) and s.60(3.1)).
This FAQ is for Saskatchewan tenants whose rental is being sold. It covers the Notice to Vacate so Purchaser can Occupy (old Form 8c), fixed-term leases, your deposit and the 15-day dispute window. For the full picture of your rights, see Saskatchewan Tenant Rights: A Complete Guide.
Does selling the house end my tenancy in Saskatchewan?
No. When a Saskatchewan rental changes hands, the new owner steps into the old landlord's place in every existing tenancy agreement, with the same rights and obligations (s.38(2) and (5)). The buyer is treated as knowing about your tenancy (s.38(3)).
| Your situation | What the sale means |
|---|---|
| Fixed-term lease | Continues to its end date; no purchaser notice can end it early (s.55(2), s.60(2)) |
| Month-to-month, buyer will rent it out | Continues with the new landlord (s.38) |
| Month-to-month, buyer or close family will live there | One month's notice possible once the sale is firm (s.60(6), s.60(3.1)) |
When can a buyer ask me to move out in Saskatchewan?
A Saskatchewan landlord can give a purchaser-occupy notice only if all three conditions are met: the landlord agreed in good faith to sell, every condition of the sale has been satisfied, and the purchaser asked the landlord in writing to give the notice (s.60(6)). The purchaser, or a close family member or friend of the purchaser, must intend in good faith to live in the unit.
"Close family member or friend" covers a spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews (including the spouse's), and anyone else a hearing officer accepts as close (s.60(1)(a)). The notice must be on the approved form, be dated, give the address and the end date, and state the ground (s.63).
How much notice do I get?
At least one month after you receive the notice, ending the day before a rent day (s.60(3.1) and s.64(3)). A date that is too early is automatically moved to the earliest valid date (s.64(2)). That is half the two months' notice a landlord must give to move in personally (s.60(3)).
Frequently asked questions
Can I dispute a purchaser occupy notice?
Yes. Give the landlord written notice that you dispute it within 15 days after you receive it (s.60(9)). If you do not, you are treated as accepting the end date and must leave by then (s.60(10)). Our guide on every Saskatchewan notice to vacate shows the other grounds.
Can I leave before the date on the notice?
Yes. Give the landlord at least 10 days' written notice of an earlier date and pay rent only up to that date; rent you already paid for later days must be refunded (s.61).
What happens to my damage deposit?
Deposits and their interest pass to the new landlord on the sale, and the old landlord must transfer them with the records (s.38(4) and (6)). The new landlord then owes the usual return within seven business days after you move out (s.32(1)).
What if the buyer never moves in?
You can apply to the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) for compensation from the landlord or the purchaser if steps are not taken within a reasonable time, or the unit is not used for that purpose for at least six months (s.62). Apply within one year (s.71.1).
Can the landlord show the house to buyers?
Yes, with your consent or 24 hours' notice, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on a Sunday or your day of worship (Standard Conditions s.9(4)–(5)).
A sale changes who you pay, not your rights. More help for renters is in the Canadian Tenant Resource Center.
Know where you stand before you pack
Check that the notice you got matches Saskatchewan's Notice to Vacate: Purchaser Occupy form.
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