Renoviction Notice in Saskatchewan: Demolition and Renovation Rules

Major renovations that require vacant possession are a legitimate ground for ending a Saskatchewan tenancy — but the rules are stricter than most landlords expect. If permits or approvals are required by law, they must be in place before you serve the notice.

When You Can Serve a Renovation or Demolition Notice

Section 60(7) of The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 covers these scenarios:

• Demolition: You plan to tear down the building
• Conversion: You intend to change the property's use (residential to commercial, for example)
• Renovation: You need the unit vacant for structural work that cannot be done with the tenant in place

The termination ground applies to periodic tenancies only — you cannot use it to end a fixed-term lease early.

The Permit Requirement

Before you serve notice, you must have all permits and approvals required by law. Not applied for. Not pending. In hand.

If a permit or approval is required by law for the planned work, preliminary plans, architect's drawings, or an application receipt do not meet Section 60(7)'s requirement; the required permit or approval must be in place before you serve Form 8d. If it is not, that statutory ground is not established.

This means the renovation or demolition timeline starts with the municipality, not with the tenant. Get the permits first, then serve the notice.

Form 8d and the Two-Month Notice Period

You serve Form 8d (Notice to Vacate for Specified Uses) with two full calendar months' notice aligned with the rental period. For a monthly tenancy where rent is due on the 1st:

• Form 8d served on or before January 31 → tenancy ends March 31
• Form 8d served on February 1 → tenancy ends April 30

The notice must clearly describe the planned work: demolition, the type of renovation, or the intended conversion. Attach or reference the municipal permit.

Tenant Response Options

The tenant can:

• Vacate by the termination date
• Dispute the notice within 15 days — the ORT hearing will examine whether the permits are valid and the stated purpose is genuine
• Leave early with 10 days' notice — under Section 61, the tenant gives at least 10 days' written notice and pays the prorated rent through the effective date when giving notice; if rent was prepaid, you must refund any amount for a later period

Good Faith and Section 62 Compensation

Like owner-occupancy notices, renovation and demolition notices are subject to Section 62. A tenant may apply for compensation for losses if no steps are taken to accomplish the stated purpose within a reasonable period after the notice takes effect, or the unit is not used for that purpose for at least six months beginning within a reasonable period after the notice takes effect. The burden is on you to demonstrate that you took substantial steps toward the stated purpose within a reasonable time.

Unauthorized Sublets: A Separate Ground

If your tenant has sublet the unit or assigned the lease without your written consent, that is a separate termination ground under Section 58(1)(i) — not a renovation issue. You would use Form 8 with a one-month notice period, and you need evidence of the unauthorized sublet (advertising listings, statements from the subtenant, lease agreement terms prohibiting subletting without consent).

The Saskatchewan Ending a Tenancy guide covers the complete renovation and demolition termination workflow with a permit checklist, date calculation examples, and the Section 62 compensation framework.

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