Landlord’s Checklist: What to Do Before Renting Your Property
Being a landlord can be a fantastic way to build long-term wealth, but if you’re wondering how to rent your house in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge or Medicine Hat (or anywhere in Alberta) without the stress, the secret is all in the prep work.
Before you hand over the keys and sign that lease, there’s a lot more to do than just a quick vacuum. From legal compliance to finding the right property rental management strategy, this checklist covers the essentials to ensure your first tenancy is a success.
Renting out a property for the first time can feel overwhelming. You’re probably asking yourself: Am I missing anything? What if something goes wrong?
The good news? Most rental problems can be avoided before the tenant ever moves in, if you prepare properly.
This landlord’s checklist walks you through everything you should do before renting your property, from legal requirements and maintenance to insurance and tenant readiness. If you’re wondering how to rent your house the right way, this guide is your starting point.
1. Understand Your Legal Responsibilities as a Landlord
Before you even post an ad, you need to understand the rules of the game. In Alberta, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is your Bible.
Learn the RTA: Familiarize yourself with rules regarding security deposits, notice periods, and entry rights.
Draft a Solid Lease: Don’t rely on a generic template from the internet. Ensure your lease agreement is Alberta-specific and clearly outlines responsibilities for utilities, snow removal, and lawn care.
Property Taxes & Licenses: Ensure your property taxes are up to date. While Edmonton or Calgary doesn’t currently require a general business license for long-term rentals, always check for any recent municipal bylaw changes.
2. Maintenance and "Rent-Ready" Repairs
A well-maintained home attracts higher-quality tenants who are more likely to take care of the space.
The "Deep Clean": This goes beyond a Sunday morning tidy. Steam clean the carpets, scrub inside the oven, and wash the windows.
Safety First: Test every smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm. Ensure there is a fire extinguisher on-site and that all exits are clear and functional.
The Small Fixes: Squeaky hinges, dripping faucets, or burnt-out lightbulbs might seem minor, but they set a standard for the tenant. If you don't care about the small things, they won't either.
HVAC & Appliances: Have your furnace serviced and change the filters. It’s much cheaper to do preventative maintenance now than to pay for an emergency repair in the middle of a -30°C Edmonton or Calgary January.
3. Review Your Insurance Coverage
Your standard homeowner’s insurance will not cover you once you move out and a tenant moves in. This is a critical step that many new landlords overlook.
Rental Property Insurance in Edmonton or Calgary: Switch your policy to a "Landlord’s Insurance" or "Rented Dwelling" policy. This typically covers the structure, your liability as an owner, and sometimes "loss of rent" if the home becomes uninhabitable due to a claim.
Require Tenant Insurance: Make it a non-negotiable term in your lease that tenants must carry their own tenant insurance. This protects their belongings and, more importantly, provides them with liability coverage if they accidentally cause damage (like a kitchen fire).
4. Setting the Right Price
Pricing is a balancing act. Too high, and your property sits vacant for months; too low, and you're leaving money on the table.
Market Research: Look at similar listings in your specific neighborhood. Consider factors like proximity to transit, finished basements, or updated kitchens.
Account for Expenses: Your rent should ideally cover your mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and a "rainy day" fund for repairs.
5. Professional Marketing & Screening
First impressions are everything. If your photos are dark and blurry, you’ll struggle to get viewings.
High-Quality Photos: Clean the space, open the blinds for natural light, and take wide-angle shots of every room.
The Screening Process: This is the most important part of property rental management. You need to verify income, run credit checks, and most importantly, call previous landlord references. A little bit of digging now saves months of headaches later.
6. The Move-In Inspection
In Alberta, a written Move-In Inspection Report is legally required if you want to be able to deduct damages from the security deposit later.
Be Meticulous: Walk through the home with the tenant. Document the condition of every wall, floor, and appliance.
Take Photos/Video: A picture is worth a thousand words in a dispute. Date-stamp your photos of the property’s condition on move-in day.
Get Signatures: A move-in inspection is invalid unless it has both yours and the tenant’s signatures with dates.
7. Nail Down the Utilities & Waste Strategy
One of the most common friction points in property rental management is who pays for what. In Edmonton or Calgary, you have a few ways to structure this:
Tenant-Led Accounts: The cleanest way is to have the tenant put electricity, water, and gas in their own name. This protects you from being on the hook for their usage.
Waste Management: Edmonton and Calgary have specific sorting rules (food scraps, recycling, and garbage). Provide your tenant with the City’s "What Goes Where" guide. If they don't sort correctly, the city might not pick it up, or worse, you could get fined.
8. Prep for the "Alberta Factor" (Seasonal Maintenance)
Our weather is no joke. Your checklist needs to account for the -30°C stretches and the spring melt.
Snow & Grass Responsibilities: Don't leave this to "common sense." Explicitly state in the lease who is responsible for shoveling the sidewalk (within 48 hours of snowfall, per Edmonton and Calgary bylaws) and mowing the lawn. If the tenant is doing it, ensure you provide the equipment (shovel/mower) or confirm they have their own.
The "Freeze-Proof" Walkthrough: Show your tenant where the main water shut-off valve is. Explain that in the winter, they cannot turn the heat off if they go on vacation, or the pipes will burst.
Outdoor Spigots: Before the first frost, ensure outdoor hoses are disconnected and the blow-out valves are shut off to prevent cracked pipes inside the walls.
9. Modernize with Smart Tech
If you're looking at how to rent your house in Edmonton or Calgary to a tech-savvy demographic (like professionals or students), smart home features are a huge selling point and a safety win.
Smart Locks: These are a game-changer. You can change "keys" between tenants with a few clicks on your phone, no more locksmith fees. Plus, you can give temporary codes to contractors for repairs.
Smart Thermostats: Not only do they save on energy bills, but some models will alert you if the temperature drops dangerously low, a literal lifesaver if the furnace quits while the tenant is away.
10. Financial Record Keeping & Security Deposits
Treat your rental like the business it is.
Security Deposit Trust Account: In Alberta, you must place the security deposit into a dedicated, interest-bearing trust account within two banking days of receiving it. You also have to pay the tenant interest annually
Digital Rent Collection: Move away from paper checks. Use Interac E-transfer or a dedicated rental platform. It creates an instant digital paper trail, which is vital for your taxes and any potential disputes.
Preparation Is Profit Protection
Renting out a property isn’t just about finding a tenant, it’s about protecting your asset, income, and sanity.
If you’re learning how to rent your house in Edmonton or Calgary, the steps above aren’t optional, they’re essential. And if the process feels like too much, that’s completely normal.
Need Help Getting Your Rental Ready?
At Power Properties, we specialize in professional property rental management across Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. From legal compliance and tenant screening to maintenance and ongoing management, we help landlords rent smarter with less stress.
📞 Contact Power Properties today to see how we can protect your investment and maximize your rental returns.
About Power Properties Ltd.
Founded in 1980, Power Properties has been providing hassle-free property management services to property owners, property investors and non-residents with homes in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat for over 45 years. Our full-service property management includes everything from move in to move out, so you don’t have to worry about the day-to-day operations of your rental property. With a team of licensed professionals, years of experience, and award-winning service, you can rest assured that your property is in good hands.
