What's the difference between RTDRS and CDRT in Alberta?

RTDRS handles disputes between landlords and tenants under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act. CDRT handles disputes between condo owners and their corporations under the Condominium Property Act. The two don't overlap — pick the one that matches your relationship to the dispute.

I'm a tenant in a condo who got a bylaw fine. Which tribunal?

Neither — directly. The corporation typically can't fine you as a tenant; the fine goes to the owner. If you have a dispute with your landlord about whether you owe them for a fine, that's RTDRS. If your landlord wants the underlying fine itself disputed, that's CDRT (and the owner files, not you).

Can I file at both RTDRS and CDRT for the same situation?

They're different disputes, so technically yes, but the questions are different. CDRT decides whether the corporation properly imposed the fine. RTDRS decides whether the landlord can recover the resulting cost from the tenant. The two run in parallel if both are active.

Which tribunal is faster?

Both are designed to be faster than civil court. CDRT decisions are required within 60 days of a hearing concluding. RTDRS aims for similar timelines. End-to-end, both run in weeks to a few months depending on case complexity.

CDRT guide · Forum choice

RTDRS vs CDRT: which Alberta tribunal handles my dispute?

Last updated May 17, 2026

Short answer: RTDRS for landlord-tenant disputes. CDRT for condo-corporation disputes. The two don't overlap — pick the one that matches your relationship to the dispute.

That sounds obvious, but it confuses people because both tribunals deal with “living in a condo.” The key is not the building — it's who you're fighting with.

Side-by-side

Question	RTDRS	CDRT
Full name	Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service	Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal
Governing statute	Residential Tenancies Act	Condominium Property Act
Who disputes whom	Tenant ↔ landlord	Owner ↔ condo corporation
Launched	2006 (in operation 20+ years)	April 1, 2026
Typical disputes	Rent arrears, damage deposits, repairs, eviction, lease breaches, end-of-tenancy disputes	Bylaw fines, document access, general-meeting irregularities
Filing fee	$75	$150
Self-representation	Yes (designed for it)	Yes (designed for it)
Process	Filing → hearing → order	Filing → guided negotiation → mediation → adjudication
Decision timeline	Weeks to a few months	Weeks to a few months (60 days post-hearing)
Appeal	Court of King's Bench, 30 days	Court of King's Bench, question of law only, 30 days

What each one CAN'T do

RTDRS won't hear

Disputes between a condo owner and their corporation (that's CDRT)
Disputes over commercial leases (RTDRS is residential only)
Property damage claims over $100,000 (those go to Court of King's Bench)
Disputes about whether the bylaw itself is reasonable

CDRT won't hear

Disputes between a landlord and their tenant — even if the tenant lives in a condo unit (that's RTDRS)
Neighbour-to-neighbour disputes inside a condo building (parking arguments, noise complaints between units)
Insurance and deductible disputes
Director-election and board-conduct issues (outside the meeting framework)
Claims for general damages — only Court of King's Bench awards those

The "I'm a tenant in a condo" scenarios

Owners who don't live in their condo and rent it out create the most confusion. Here's the breakdown:

Scenario 1: corporation sends a fine notice to your unit

The notice names you (the tenant) or the owner. The corporation wants the fine paid.

Forum: CDRT (only the owner can file). You: forward the notice to your landlord. See our tenant-fined guide.

Scenario 2: landlord paid the fine and is billing you

The owner paid the corporation. Now they want you to reimburse. You think you shouldn't have to.

Forum: RTDRS. You file if the landlord starts deducting from your damage deposit or sues you. See our landlord-pass-through analysis.

Scenario 3: you and the corporation both think you should dispute the fine, but the landlord is dragging their feet

You think the fine is procedurally defective. Your landlord is the one who has to file at the CDRT, but they're reluctant ($150 + their time).

Forum: CDRT (but the owner files). You: consider offering to cover the $150 filing fee + buying a $15 FineCheck report yourself. Show your landlord the procedural defects in writing. Many landlords flip from “not worth my time” to “sure” once the case looks strong.

Scenario 4: landlord is trying to evict you over a bylaw breach

Forum: RTDRS. Eviction proceedings against a residential tenant always go through the RTA framework, not the condo bylaw framework. The condo bylaw may have given rise to the eviction notice but RTDRS decides whether the eviction is lawful.

Scenario 5: your landlord refuses to fix something in the unit

Forum: RTDRS. Maintenance and habitability fall under the Residential Tenancies Act. Even if the corporation is the actual responsible party for common-property repairs, your dispute is with your landlord (who's your contractual counterparty), not the corporation.

How to decide quickly

Who do you have a contractual relationship with?
- Landlord → RTDRS
- Corporation (you're an owner) → CDRT
- Neither (you're a tenant, the corporation is the issue) → indirect; landlord has to file at CDRT for you
Which statute governs the underlying dispute?
- Residential Tenancies Act → RTDRS
- Condominium Property Act → CDRT
Which fee can you afford? $75 (RTDRS) vs. $150 (CDRT). Cheaper isn't always appropriate — pick by jurisdiction, not by price.

What FineCheck helps with

FineCheck is specifically built around CDRT-eligible fine disputes. The $15 report:

Tells you whether the underlying condo fine notice is procedurally enforceable (the analysis that grounds a CDRT challenge)
Gives you cited evidence you can hand to your landlord (if you're a tenant) to persuade them to file
Provides the basis for an RTDRS defence if the landlord tries to pass through a procedurally-defective fine to you

FineCheck doesn't advise on RTDRS-specific matters (rent, repairs, damage deposits, evictions). For those, the Alberta.ca RTDRS page is the primary resource.

Got a condo bylaw fine? Whether you're the owner or the tenant, the procedural-compliance check is the same. Check the fine — $15.

This page reflects Alberta law as we understand it. It is not legal advice. RTDRS-specific advice on tenancy matters is best sought from CPLEA (Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta) or an Alberta lawyer.