Manitoba Self-Help Eviction: Why Landlords Cannot Change Locks or Cut Utilities

Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal in Manitoba

No matter how difficult the situation, a Manitoba landlord cannot remove a tenant without going through the legal process at the Residential Tenancies Branch.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, the following are all prohibited:

• Changing the locks without providing keys to the tenant
• Disconnecting utilities — heat, water, electricity, or gas
• Removing the tenant's belongings to force them out
• Threatening or intimidating the tenant into leaving
• Blocking access to the rental unit or common areas

These actions are illegal regardless of whether the tenant owes rent, has damaged the property, or has overstayed a valid termination notice.

The Consequences

A tenant who experiences a self-help eviction can file a complaint with the RTB. The Branch can order the landlord to:

• Restore the tenant's access to the unit immediately
• Pay compensation for the tenant's proven financial losses
• Cover the tenant's costs of temporary accommodation

The Director may also issue an administrative penalty for certain contraventions.

The Only Legal Path

The legal process in Manitoba follows a set sequence:

1. Serve the correct termination notice (Form 8, 10, 11A, 11B, or 11C) using a permitted method
2. Wait for the notice period to expire
3. If the tenant does not leave, apply to the RTB for an Order of Possession ($60 filing fee)
4. Attend the hearing and obtain the order
5. If the tenant still refuses to leave, file the order with the Court of King's Bench and obtain a Writ of Possession
6. The Sheriff's Office executes the removal

Only a Sheriff Officer has the authority to physically enforce an eviction. Even after the Order of Possession deadline passes, you cannot take matters into your own hands.

What About Abandoned Property?

When a tenant moves out and leaves belongings behind, you still cannot throw them away immediately. Worthless or unsafe items may be disposed of, except personal papers and photographs, which must be inventoried and stored for at least 60 days. Items worth more than the costs of removal, storage, and sale must be inventoried on Form 12, with copies sent to the Branch and tenant after a reasonable effort to contact the tenant, and stored for at least 60 days. After that, you can apply to the RTB for authorization to sell them, usually by public auction. Items of limited value may be donated or disposed of.

Our Ending a Tenancy in Manitoba guide walks through the entire legal termination process, including the proof-of-service requirements and RTB application steps that keep you on the right side of the law.

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