Resources, Calculators and FAQs
Discover publications and tools that will help you to understand your rights and responsibilities as a landlord or tenant.
Calculators and Tools
Get things done – find the right tool designed to help with various tenancy-related tasks.
Make sure you meet important deadlines and that your calculations are correct
Search or Verify Past Decisions
Do a bit of research to find out about decisions the Residential Tenancy Branch has already made for claims that are similar to your issue. This will give you insight into whether or not it’s worthwhile to submit an application for dispute resolution.
You can search for or verify the contents of a landlord or tenant Direct Request decision written on or after December 21, 2022
You can also search for or verify the contents of a decision based on a single landlord or tenant application for dispute resolution, which had a participatory hearing, written on or after June 16, 2023
Use the Decision ID (located on decision or order) to view an anonymous version of the original decision.
Click below to find a landlord or tenant Direct Request decision written on or after December 21, 2022, OR a participatory decision based on a single application written on or after June 16, 2023.
Choose the fast, easy way to complete a Dispute Resolution Application.
- Learn more about applying online
Publications
Use these publications to help understand your rights and responsibilities as a landlord or tenant. The information in these resources is based on the Residential Tenancy Act (External Link) and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act (External Link) and is intended to provide guidance. If ever there’s a discrepancy between information from a supplementary resource and what the legislation says, the legislation will always take precedence as the legal authority.
Guide One: Preparing for the Hearing (PDF - 458 KB) (Oct.21)
Guide Two: What to Expect at the Hearing (PDF - 227 KB) (Oct.21)
Guide Three: After the Decision (PDF - 291 KB) (Oct.21)
Find guidance and information for common topics about renting.
Watch short videos on important tenancy topics.
Access convenient summaries of information that every landlord and tenant should know.
Read plain language versions of policies as well as the intent of the legislation they uphold – they’re especially useful for understanding how to present your dispute resolution case in way that’s relevant and logical
Tenancy law and the Residential Tenancy Branch Rules of Procedure set out key rights and responsibilities for landlords and tenants.
The Rules of Procedure ensure a fair, efficient and consistent process for resolving disputes for landlords and tenants.
The Glossary of Terms provides plain-language definitions to help you understand the Residential Tenancy Branch process.
Interpretation Services
The RTB can provide access to free telephone interpretation services in over 200 languages (including many Indigenous languages). To request interpretation services please email HSRTO@gov.bc.ca and include your dispute number and the language you require.
Accommodations
If you are in need of accommodations, please email HSRTO@gov.bc.ca and include your dispute number and the accommodations you require.
Helpful Links
The following is a list of links that landlords and tenants refer to regularly:
- Health Canada – Bed Bugs (External Link)
- HealthLinkBC – Bed Bugs (External Link)
- Law Foundation of BC (External Link)
- Provincial Court of BC (External Link)
For Tenants
These groups and organizations are ready to help tenants with information about their rights and responsibilities when renting.
Active Manufactured Home Owners Society (BCMHO.ca) is a province-wide association that actively promotes and supports an ongoing working relationship and partnership between Federal, Provincial and Local Government agencies, homeowner/tenants and the landowners/landlords of British Columbia's Manufactured Home Parks.
Visit Active Manufactured Home Owners Society (BCMHO.ca) (External Link)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation sets out several things to consider when looking to rent. They’ve got the information to help make things a little easier.
- Learn more from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (External Link)
CLAS provides legal assistance and advances the law to address the critical needs of those who are disadvantaged or face discrimination.
- Get help from Community Legal Assistance Society (External Link)
Free legal information, education and resources for newcomers to Canada and the people working for them.
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia provides a variety of support services for immigrants and refugees to help them get settled, find careers and learn all they need to know about starting their new lives in Canada.
The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia is a publicly accountable, statutory corporation with a unique governance structure responsible for administering the land title and survey systems in BC.
- Search for a land title (External Link)
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner provides independent oversight and enforcement of B.C.'s access and privacy laws. These guidelines are intended to assist landlords and property managers in discharging their duties under the Residential Tenancy Act in a manner that respects the privacy of tenants and promotes transparency in the operation of landlord and tenant relationships.
Ready to Rent BC opens doors to housing through education. Their purpose is to provide education and support to tenants and landlords with the goal of healthy tenancies.
- Learn more through Ready to Rent (External Link)
TRAC promotes the legal protection of residential tenants across British Columbia by providing information, education, support and research on residential tenancy matters.
- Visit TRAC (Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre) (External Link)
For Landlords
Landlords can access information about managing rental units and tenant relationships properly from these organizations.
BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA)
The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) now has regulatory authority over real estate services.
- Learn more at BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) (External Link)
Whether you rent multiple units in a high-rise or an apartment in your basement, you need to know many things about finding tenants and making your rental business work to your advantage. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation sets out some of the key business and legal aspects of being a landlord or a property manager.
- Learn more from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (External Link)
CHOA is a consumer based non-profit association that promotes the understanding of strata property living and the interests of strata property owners.
- Learn more at Condominium Home Owner's Association (CHOA) (External Link)
LandlordBC is BC’s top resource for owners and managers of rental housing, and the largest professional rental housing industry association in the province.
- Visit LandlordBC (External Link)
The Manufactured Home Park Owners' Alliance of British Columbia is a registered non-profit society that represents over 360 Manufactured Home Community Owner members throughout British Columbia. They are supported by industry partners in working to make manufactured home living a very positive and attractive and affordable lifestyle choice.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner provides independent oversight and enforcement of B.C.'s access and privacy laws. These guidelines are intended to assist landlords and property managers in discharging their duties under the Residential Tenancy Act in a manner that respects the privacy of tenants and promotes transparency in the operation of landlord and tenant relationships.
PestWorld.org is the official website of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), a non-profit organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property. This site serves as a comprehensive resource for consumers, media, educators and pest control professionals. From common household pests to do-it-yourself pest control tips, PestWorld.org provides timely information and tools to better serve our visitors' pest management needs.
The Professional Association of Managing Agents promotes professional and ethical residential property management. Members recognize responsibilities to their investors, clients and to the community in general, when performing their duties in the management of residential rental properties, strata titled properties and any other properties under their jurisdiction.
- Visit Professional Association of Managing Agents (PAMA) (External Link)
The Real Estate Council of British Columbia regulates real estate in the public interest. They license the more than 22,000 individuals and brokerages engaged in real estate sales, rental property and strata management, they enforce standards of conduct, they investigate complaints from the public against licensees, and they impose disciplinary sanctions under the Real Estate Services Act.
- Visit Real Estate Council of BC (RECBC) (External Link)
The Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISOA) provides services to all stratas (apartments, condominiums, townhomes, bare land stratas) in British Columbia. It is an independent, non-profit organization that was formed in 1973 and is supported solely by membership fees.
- Visit Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association (VISOA) (External Link)
The West Kootenay Landlords Society serves, educates, and represents residential landlords in the southeast area of BC. WKLS holds monthly meetings, offers educational opportunities and generally helps smaller, non-corporate landlords in the business of providing rental housing in diverse communities.
- Visit West Kootenay Landlords Society (External Link)
The content on this website is periodically reviewed and updated by the Province of British Columbia as per the date noted on each page: June 23, 2023.
