Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service - Edmonton, AB

A D.

My first hearing was very unfair with J. Young as many other reviews state, the Director ruled in my favor and that the landlord lied. I received a fair and just hearing from MacFarland who was very well versed in RTDS law. I am grateful for this process !

Jenn P.

Overly geared towards catering to tenants. I called this morning about a damage deposit and the woman couldn't even attempt to hide her disdain towards landlords and disinterest in having to take my call. She interuppted me numerous times and wasn't listening to anything I was saying or asking. She presented as incredibly biased.Government cuts are in the future. I think the RTDRs needs a major overhaul or an abolishmement altogether. The staff I have encountered have been largely incompetent. I have never received received even adequate service or answers.

KB

I had a Landlord-Tenant dispute where the Landlord tried to collect rent arrears past what I signed on the fixed-term lease.

I received an email from the RTDRS that a hearing took place without me as I never provided the Landlord or RTDRS with my phone number and that I owed ~$11,000. I appealed and explained the Landlord had my phone number and email at all material times, that serving the unit did not serve me, and the Landlord knew throughout the lease that I was not residing in the unit. I had the misfortune of having J. Young as my officer. I spent 15 hours putting together my evidence and researching the RTA. I shouldn’t be responsible for the ten month period the Landlord chose not to evict the over-holding tenant. J.Young did not review any documentation and it was apparent. His mind was made up prior to the second hearing. When I questioned why I should be held responsible for the additional 10 month period, he said “Unless the landlord is willing to remove you as a tenant you are responsible”. How can I be liable for costs I had no ability to defend myself against? As far as the Landlord had communicated with me, the lease was terminated 10 months prior to the hearing. The phone call was 4 minutes.

At no point did J.Young question the Landlords lack of good faith when serving me. He served only the unit knowing I didn’t reside there. He was, as the Judge later said, “double dipping”. I’m grateful I appealed this, but with how J.Young lead the hearing, I almost didn’t. I felt ridiculed. He judged my case before having all of the evidence.

Its disappointing this service is supposed to be a financial aid to those who don’t have means to go to court, yet officers like J.Young can err severely with no consequence. J.Young’s lack of integrity and ability to remain impartial while performing his responsibilities cost me $4000, where is the justice in that?

Jez

I had never heard of the RTDRS until my landlord brought a case against me. After winning that case I felt confident enought to bring forward all the issues I was overlooking to keep my rental home. They questioned the landlord's obvious lies and listened to me, even though i didn't have a lawyer but the landlord did. I'm very greatful for this service. Everything was done through phone calls and emails so accessing it was easy.

Penney A. R. D.

Sept 3 2024 we had a hearing with the RTDRS the officer in question is J YOUNG. thought we had a good case, with having the health inspection and AISH on our side, NOPE $8.678 was what we were order to pay to a slumlord in COLD LAKE AB. BLACK MOULD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS SAYS IT ALL. MY KIDS HEALTH WAS MORE IMPORTANT OF US TO LEAVE. 1600 A MONTH AND TO PAY 900 FOR POWER AND GAS ON A FIXED INCOME WANT GOOD ENOUGH THAN TO FIND OUT THAT THE LANDLORD IN Question only lied under oth, when officer J YOUNG asked the landlord well how do expect them to pay if you know they are low income and on AISH? landlord kept quiet till the end just as we thought the case was gonna get thrown out as it should have or even some award of Adment of rent, but nope. The landlord said told j young that all INDIGENOUS PEOPLE were getting cows and plows,so I'm sure they can pay. In our case that was being discriminated and Bais, yes my husband is indigenous, but he isn't registered Indian to receive these benefits, J YOUNG never took anything we said into fact, and the point of making a judgment on hear say was not at all fair. In case our ex old landlord as well frauded and harassed Alberta works for u payment of rent which AISH makes sure gets paid. He fraudes us and AISH by telling them we were EVACUATED just to get a fast pay day of $2,778.90 sad part is that never happened and J YOUNG took the landlord's said of the hearing. Now we have to appeal this? That alone is 600.00 who else can people complain to

Jocelyn P.

Do not try to dispute your claims here. They claim to be a court and to bring forward what is just. When given clear evidence about landlords breaching our lease, they claimed they weren’t there to decide what was right and wrong. So what are you there for then? The disputed rushed through, wouldn’t let me read a statement explaining all of my evidence, and just let the landlord get away with things they had tried to charge for that were illegal and unjust. Not worth your time.

Russ S.

Terrible, you seek justice and when advised that the respondents have broken the law and have broken the tenancy act they still side with the respondent and refuse to fine wrong doers or award any damages, they condone fraud, straight out of the trudeau book of morals! Waste of time and money should be closed down immediately

Shayla M.

As a tenant who disputed an unlawful situation between myself and my ex landlord, I am happy to say I WON the case. If you study and learn the Act, and you act according to the laws outlined in the Act, you will be completly fine in your hearing. Mr.Smith was very reasonable, kind, and fair throughout the whole hearing and in his decision making. Would highly recommend going through this as long as you are playing by the rule book. If you’re the one sneaking around doing shady things (which I believe most of these negative reviews have), then ya, you’re not going to win the case. Plain & simple.
But, if you’re within your rights of the Act, then consider yourself a winner!