Landlords may serve various types of notices to end a tenancy. Notices need to be in writing and all parties should keep copies.
Landlords can legally evict tenants with a 10 Day Notice to End Tenancy (PDF, 636KB) - RTB Form 30 if rent is unpaid. If a tenant pays rent in cash, they should make sure to get a receipt. If a tenant has a verbal agreement with their landlord about their rent payment, they should make sure to get it in writing.
If your tenant is late paying by even one day, or the rent is short by any amount of money, the landlord has the right to serve them with a 10 day eviction notice for non-payment of rent.
Tenants have 5 days to dispute their eviction and apply for dispute resolution after receiving a 10 day notice.
If a tenant does not pay the rent or apply for dispute resolution, the landlord can use the Direct request process to request an Order of Possession without participating in a dispute resolution hearing.
Learn more about dispute resolution and dispute resolution hearings.
Tenants cannot withhold utility payments, even if the landlord is neglecting repairs.
If a tenant fails to pay for utilities as required in the tenancy agreement, the landlord can serve a 30-day written demand to pay utilities. If utility payment is not received within 30 days, the landlord can then serve a 10-day eviction notice.
Landlords can legally evict tenants with a One Month Notice to End Tenancy (PDF, 2.1MB) RTB Form 33 for not following legal responsibilities under the tenancy agreement or Residential Tenancy Act (RTA).
A landlord may end a tenancy if one or more of the following applies:
The tenant or a person allowed on the property by the tenant has:
The tenant does not repair damage to the rental unit or other residential property, as required under RTA: Section 32 within a reasonable time.
The rental unit must be vacant to follow an order of a federal, British Columbia, regional or municipal government authority.
The tenant or a person allowed on the property by the tenant has:
The tenant has not complied with an order from the director within 30 days of the later of the following dates:
The tenant does not pay the security deposit or pet damage deposit within 30 days of the due date.
There are an unreasonable number of occupants in a rental unit RTA: Section 13.2.
The tenant or person allowed on the property by the tenant have caused damage to the rental unit or property.
The tenant has:
Landlords may decide to evict a tenant based on information from a third party. This process usually involves the landlord gathering evidence and assessing its credibility.
If a tenant is facing an eviction based off third party information, they should:
For a full list of reasons for obtaining a one month eviction notice, review the RTA: Section 47
Tenants have 10 days dispute their eviction and apply for dispute resolution after receiving a one month eviction notice.
Important information for landlords and purchasers ending a tenancy with a two month notice:
If you are giving a two month notice to end tenancy on or after April 3, 2024, the landlord or their close family member, or the purchaser or their close family member, must intend in good faith to live in the rental unit for at least 12 months, beginning within a reasonable period after the effective date of the notice.
According to RTA: Sections 49 and 49.1 of the Residential Tenancy Act, a Two Month Notice to End Tenancy (PDF, 597KB) - RTB Form 32 is generally given to tenants if:
The Residential Tenancy Act defines a “close family member” as the landlord’s spouse, or the parents or children of the landlord or the landlord’s spouse.
Tenants have 15 days to dispute their eviction and apply for dispute resolution after receiving a 2 month eviction notice.
According to RTA: Section 49 of the Residential Tenancy Act, a Four Month Notice to End Tenancy (PDF, 2.2MB) - RTB Form 29 is given to tenants if the landlord plans to:
When a landlord gets an order of possession for demolition or conversion, the tenant should receive an amount that is equal to one month’s rent compensation payable under the tenancy agreement.
Tenants have 30 days to dispute their eviction and apply for dispute resolution after receiving a 4 month eviction notice.
Landlords may end a tenancy for renovations or repairs if:
Effective July 1, 2021, if a landlord wants to end a tenancy for extensive renovations or repairs, they need to:
Please note the above link will require that you have registered for a Basic BCeID.
If the landlord has completed all of the above, there will be a dispute resolution proceeding where an arbitrator will decide if the renovations are major enough to end the tenancy. Only then can the landlord present a 4-month Order of possession, and the tenant should receive a compensation amount equal to one month’s rent payable under the tenancy agreement.
In residential properties containing 5 or more rental units, tenants being evicted due to renovations or repairs have a right of first refusal to return to their unit once the renovations or repairs have been completed. If a tenant is interested in moving back into their rental after the renovation is complete, they should notify the landlord with a Tenant Notice: Exercising Right of First Refusal (PDF, 688KB) - RTB Form 28. The landlord must then re-write the tenancy agreement and give the tenant a 45 Day Notice of Availability (PDF, 675KB) - RTB Form 35 before renovations are complete.
Landlords may serve a 12 Month Notice to End Tenancy for Conversion of Manufactured Home Park (PDF, 2.1MB) - RTB Form 31 when converting all or part of a manufactured home park to a different purpose. Before serving the notice, the landlord must have all required permits and approvals in place to convert the park to another type of residential use or non-residential use.
Tenants have 15 days after receiving a 12 month eviction notice to dispute their eviction and apply for a dispute resolution.