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Pet Damage Deposits

Last updated on August 15, 2023

Overview

A supplement may be provided to assist recipients of income, hardship, and disability assistance with the cost of a pet damage deposit to secure rental accommodation.

This supplement is available under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

Policy

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Eligibility

Effective: January 1, 2020

Pet damage deposits can only be issued in tenancy situations that are covered by the Residential Tenancy Act or for a housing unit owned by a cooperative association, and cannot exceed one-half the monthly rent, or monthly housing charge.  In the case of subsidized rental housing, the monthly rent is calculated as the actual rent payable plus the monthly subsidy. (E.g., rent amount paid by the client is $350, subsidized amount is $200; therefore, the monthly rent is $550).

The ministry may provide a pet damage deposit to or for a family unit that is eligible for income assistance, hardship assistance, or disability assistance if all of the following conditions are met:
 

  • the pet damage deposit is necessary to enable the family unit to rent residential accommodation
  • the recipient agrees in writing to repay the amount paid
  • the pet damage deposit does not exceed 50 per cent of one month’s rent for residential rental accommodation or 50 per cent of the monthly housing charge for a housing unit owned by a cooperative association

The ministry does not assume liability or legal responsibility for rent or for any breach of the tenancy agreement.

Pet damage deposit interest is not recoverable, nor is it considered income.

[For more information, see Additional Resources – Residential Tenancy Act.]

 

Repayment

Effective: January 1, 2020

For pet damage deposits, a Repayment Agreement/Acknowledgement of Debt (Repayable) (HR2663A) is signed. Pet damage deposits not repaid in a lump sum must be recovered through a monthly deduction from the family unit’s assistance.  Deduction starts on the second cheque issue after the pet damage deposit is issued. The recovery amount on all outstanding deposit debts is $20 per month.

Recipients may voluntarily repay their deposit debt at a higher amount. 

[For Repayment Agreement/Acknowledgement of Debt (Repayable) (HR2663A), see Forms and Letters.]

[For more information on repayment of pet damage deposit supplements, see Related Links – Recoveries.]

 

Procedures

 

Issuing a Pet Damage Deposit

Effective: January 1, 2020

Determine if the situation meets the requirement for a pet damage deposit, as set out in policy. Process the request as per the approved business process. If ineligible, ensure the recipient understands the reasons for the denial and explain clearly the options available, including information on the reconsideration process.

A request for the pet damage deposit by the landlord is enough to verify the client has a pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Question   If a recipient, who is the sole owner of a pet, requests the full pet damage deposit for a shared rental accommodation, can the ministry cover the full cost despite splitting the security deposit?

Answer Yes, if the recipient confirms they are the sole owner of the pet and all other conditions are met, they may be issued the full pet damage deposit (up to 50% of the total rent). This applies to situations when the recipient is moving into a new shared accommodation, or obtains a pet afterwards. [For more information, see Pet Damage Deposits – Policy – Eligibility and Additional Resources and Additional Resources - Residential Tenancy Act].