Canada Post Work Stoppage – What Landlords Need to Know

The Canada Post work stoppage may affect the way landlords and tenants serve and receive important tenancy-related documents. The Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) has provided temporary guidance on how to proceed during this period.

Serving Records
If you serve records by mail during the Canada Post work stoppage, arbitrators may determine that service was not sufficient, which could result in the notice/document that you have served having no effect. We strongly recommend using one of the other permitted methods of service.

What if I Served by Canada Post Before the Work Stoppage?
If you mailed records in the days leading up to the strike (typically five), we recommend serving those same documents again using another permitted method (courier, in-person, or email where allowed). This will help ensure service is not challenged on the basis of the postal disruption. Please note that as we are at the end of the month this may impact the effective date of notices served.

Serving by Courier
The RTB has temporarily authorized the use of courier service for serving records. When using this option, you must request a signature upon delivery, and one of the following conditions must be met.

  • The recipient signs a document provided by the courier acknowledging receipt;
  • The courier leaves a notice of attempted delivery in the mailbox or posted to the door; or

If the courier cannot leave the notice in the mailbox or posted to the door, they may leave it in a conspicuous place, and you must also provide proof that you attempted to contact the recipient by phone or email to inform them of the attempted delivery.

Records sent by courier are deemed received either on the actual delivery date (if signed for) or on the 5th day after the courier sends the delivery or attempted-delivery notice.

When recording service by courier in the RTB’s Dispute Access Site, select “Other” as the method of service. Upload the courier receipt and enter the tracking number in the description box. If required, attach a Proof of Service form.

Read the RTB’s temporary order allowing courier service here.

Rent Payments
Rent must still be paid in full and on time – by midnight on the due date – regardless of the postal disruption. A landlord may issue a 10 Day Notice to End Tenancy if rent is not received on time, even if a cheque was delayed in the mail.

To avoid issues during this period, we recommend arranging for:

  • In-person payment,
  • e-Transfer (with passcode provided to the landlord), or
  • Post-dated cheques.

Returning Security Deposits
Landlords remain obligated to return deposits (plus interest) within 15 days after a tenant moves out and provides a forwarding address in writing, unless the tenant agrees in writing to deductions or an arbitrator orders otherwise.

During the Canada Post work stoppage, please use alternatives to mail when returning deposits. Options include:

  • Returning the deposit in person, or
  • Arranging for the tenant to collect it directly

Methods of Service and Their Delays
During the Canada Post work stoppage, avoid serving documents by mail and choose a permitted method that keeps your timelines intact. In-person service counts the same day, while email—only where there’s prior written consent or an agreed address for service—is considered received on the third day after sending. Posting to the door or leaving a copy in a mailbox or mail slot is also considered received on the third day, and ordinary or registered mail is the fifth day—though during the stoppage arbitrators may find mail service insufficient. Under the RTB’s temporary order, you may use a courier: if the recipient signs, the document is considered received on the actual delivery date; if a delivery-attempt notice is left (with the required follow-up contact attempt), it’s considered received on the fifth day after it’s sent. Keep clear proof of service (witness notes or tracking) to back up your timelines.