Most of this site is written for homeowners. This page is for tenants, because people find out their landlord is in foreclosure and have nowhere sensible to look.
An immediate caveat: we work on the property side and we are not tenancy-law advisers. What follows is orientation, and the specifics of your situation need proper advice.
Your tenancy does not simply vanish
A foreclosure is an action between a lender and an owner. It does not automatically end a tenancy the moment it starts, and your rights under Alberta's residential tenancy framework do not disappear because your landlord has financial trouble.
What happens to a tenancy through a sale can depend on the tenancy itself, the terms of any court orders and what a purchaser intends — which is why a general article cannot give you a confident answer, and why anyone who does is guessing with your housing.
What to do
Keep paying your rent. Withholding it because the landlord is in trouble puts you in breach and weakens your position considerably.
Keep records. Your lease, every rent payment, the security deposit, and all correspondence. If things become complicated, documentation is what protects you.
Get proper advice. Service Alberta's tenancy information is the starting point, and free legal clinics advise tenants as well as owners.
Ask, and get it in writing. You are entitled to know who to pay rent to and who is responsible for repairs. If that changes, get the change in writing.
About your deposit
Security deposits are governed by tenancy rules, and this is a common area of difficulty when a property changes hands. Keep your receipt and the condition report from move-in.
Planning sensibly
Without predicting an outcome: it is reasonable to know your options. Understanding notice requirements, keeping some savings toward a move, and knowing what the local rental market looks like are all sensible without being alarmist.
And be fair to your landlord
They may be in a genuinely difficult period rather than acting badly. Communication that stays civil generally serves both sides better — you need information, and they need the rent.
Questions people ask
General information about the Alberta foreclosure process — not legal or financial advice, and nothing here guarantees an outcome. Every file is different.