Episode 182: Canadian Landlord Friendly Provinces with Schantel Hochheimer
Summary
Sometimes life throws you someone in your path you didn’t know that you needed, but you absolutely did. My guest today was exactly the person I needed to talk to about landlording - specifically, landlord “friendly” locations. She is based in Calgary, AB, Canada, and has her own criteria for landlord friendly provinces. Join me as we discuss the differences and similarities of the Canadian provinces and territories, and where you should and may you shouldn’t jump in as a real estate investor.
Listen to the full episode :
This Week’s Blog Post:
How the Conversation Started
Hi friends! I’m Dr. Jen, and in this episode of My Life as a Landlord, I sat down with Calgary-based property manager and investor, Schantel Hochheimer. She’s the founder of Aspire Peak Properties and the author of a 2022 article titled “The Best Provinces for Landlords.” I came across her piece while researching landlord-friendly locations in Canada and wanted to hear directly from her about what inspired it. Schantel’s approach to real estate goes beyond cash flow—she looks at laws, eviction processes, and tenant management as part of what makes an area truly landlord-friendly.
Defining Landlord-Friendly Provinces
Schantel outlined the three main criteria she used to rank Canada’s provinces: pet regulations, rent increase flexibility, and eviction processes. She explained that Alberta allows more freedom for landlords compared to provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, where rent increases and evictions are heavily restricted. In her research, she also explored which provinces allow landlords to restrict pets or charge additional fees for them. Since 80% of tenants now have pets, she said understanding those rules is critical. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick ranked highly for their fair, transparent systems.
Pets, Deposits, and Maintenance
As a property manager, Schantel’s pet policy is simple—two pets per unit, cats or dogs only, and they must be spayed or neutered, licensed, and vaccinated. She avoids reptiles, rodents, and large aquariums because of water and damage risks, something we both agreed is essential in multifamily housing. Alberta limits deposits to one month’s rent, but allows non-refundable pet fees, making it easier for landlords to offset risks while staying compliant. We also discussed how water damage is one of the costliest issues in rental properties and why policies around pets and tanks exist for a reason.
Immigration, Tenant Screening, and Education
Schantel also shared her experience renting to Ukrainian refugees and newcomers to Canada who had no rental or credit history. She explained how she helped secure housing by collecting the first three months’ rent upfront, giving them time to find jobs. Every tenant she worked with paid on time and cared for the property, reinforcing her belief that good communication and empathy are key. She also spoke about the importance of education and mentorship for landlords and property managers, emphasizing that knowledge of local laws is just as vital as running numbers.
The Reality of Property Management
Beyond her article, Schantel shared how she became a property management broker and now leads a team under Aspire Peak Properties. Her day involves everything from supporting her managers to improving systems and SEO for the company. When asked what a perfect week looks like, she laughed—just four uninterrupted hours to focus on creative business projects would be a win. We also talked about seniors aging in place, landlord insurance, and the importance of emergency contacts for all tenants, not just older ones. Her final advice was simple but wise: do your research, talk to local property managers, and understand the laws before investing.
I recorded this episode in Maui, Hawaii. Why? Because real estate takes you places. Where do you want real estate to take you? Join me next week for Episode 183, where real estate attorney Tim Baldwin and I discuss law-based landlord guidance. I’ll see you there!