Free Calgary Tool
Will You Get Your Deposit Back?
Enter your rent and home condition — see your deposit deduction risk and whether professional move-out cleaning pays for itself.
Calgary Move-Out Deposit Calculator
See how much of your deposit is at risk — and whether professional cleaning pays for itself.
Under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act, the maximum security deposit is one month's rent.
No carpet? Set to “Like new”.
Normal wear and tear increases with tenure — landlords can only deduct for damage beyond normal wear.
Deposit deduction risk: Medium Risk
Without professional cleaning, estimated deduction: $490
Your deposit
$2,200
Deduction risk
−$490
Clean cost
$399
You keep extra
+$91
$399 cleaning → $91 recovered
That's a 23% return on the cleaning investment. The math strongly favours professional cleaning for your situation.
Alberta Deposit Rules You Need to Know
Under the Alberta Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), landlords can deduct from your security deposit for:
- Cleaning costs — if the unit is not returned in the same level of cleanliness as when you moved in
- Damage beyond normal wear and tear — stains, burns, holes, pet damage
- Unpaid rent or utilities
Landlords cannot deduct for:
- Normal wear and tear (minor scuffs, carpet compression from furniture, minor paint fading)
- Damage that was present when you moved in and documented at move-in
- Regular maintenance that is the landlord's responsibility
Landlords must return your deposit — or provide an itemized statement of deductions — within 10 days of the tenancy ending. If they fail to do so, you may be entitled to the full deposit back regardless of condition.
Pro tip: Document everything at move-out
Take timestamped photos and video of every room, all appliances, all closets, and all fixtures on your move-out day — before the cleaning and after. This documentation is your best protection if a landlord disputes the condition. Three North Clean can provide a receipt that documents what was cleaned for your records.