Tenancy Policy Guidelines

  1. Landlord & Tenant – Responsibility for Residential Premises Jan-04 (PDF) Landlord and tenant responsibilities for maintenance, cleaning and repairs of residential property and manufactured home parks

    1. Ending a Tenancy for Occupancy by Landlord, Purchaser or Close Family Member Jul -21 (PDF) When a landlord can end a tenancy to occupy a rental unit

    2. Ending a Tenancy to Demolish, Renovate, or Convert a Rental Unit to a Permitted Use July-21 (PDF) When a landlord can end a tenancy to demolish or convert the rental unit

  3. Claims for Rent and Damages for Loss of Rent Aug-21 (PDF) Situations when a landlord can hold a tenant liable for loss of rent after the end of a tenancy agreement

  4. Liquidated Damages Jan-04 (PDF) A clause in a fixed-term tenancy agreement that requires the tenant to pay to end the tenancy early

  5. Duty to Minimize Loss May-20 (PDF) The legal obligation of tenants and landlords to minimize financial loss when a tenancy agreement is breached

  6. Entitlement to Quiet Enjoyment Aug-16 (PDF) The tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the property or unit they are renting

  7. Locks and Access Jan-04 (PDF) Legal rights and obligations for landlords and tenants regarding entry or access to a rental unit

  8. Unconscionable and Material Terms Oct-11 (PDF) Deals with material terms in a tenancy agreement or terms that are grossly unfair
     
  9. Tenancy Agreements and Licenses to Occupy May-20 (PDF) Distinguishes a tenancy agreement from a license to occupy
     
  10. Bias and Conflict of Interest Jan-04 (PDF) What happens when a party claims that a dispute resolution arbitrator is in a conflict of interest or is biased
     
  11. Amendment and Withdrawal of Notices May-20 (PDF) Amending or withdrawing the Notice to End Tenancy
     
  12. Service Provisions Feb-23 (PDF) How legal documents or orders must be served according to the Residential Tenancy Act and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act
     
  13. Rights and Responsibilities of Co-tenants May-20 (PDF) The rights and responsibilities of multiple tenants renting a property together under one tenancy agreement
     
  14. Type of Tenancy: Commercial or Residential Jan-04 (PDF) How arbitrators determine if a tenancy is residential or commercial
     
  15. Summons to Attend or Produce Evidence Oct-15 (PDF) What happens when a person is summoned to testify or provide evidence for a dispute resolution hearing
     
  16. Compensation for Damage or Loss Aug-16 (PDF) The different types of claims that can be made as part of a dispute resolution proceeding and the criteria arbitrators may consider when awarding damages
     
  17. Security Deposit and Set off Jan-16 (PDF) The definition and context used for the term 'set-off' and how security deposits should be managed
     
  18. Use of Forms Feb-23 (PDF) Whether an order can be issued based upon a previous form or a current one
     
  19. Assignment and Sublet Dec-17 (PDF) Policies and issues related to assigning and subletting tenancy agreements     
                                                                                                          
  20. Illegal Contracts Jan-04 (PDF) When a property is rented that is not permitted under a statute
     
  21. Repair Orders Respecting Strata Properties Jan-04 (PDF) An order requiring the landlord to make repairs to a rental unit that is also a strata property
     
  22. Termination or Restriction of a Service or Facility Dec-16 (PDF) Conditions under which a landlord may terminate a service or facility enjoyed by a tenant
     
  23. Amending an Application for Dispute Resolution Aug-22 (PDF) Circumstances under which an Application for Dispute Resolution may be amended
     
  24. Review Consideration of a Decision or Order April-23 (PDF) Circumstances under which an application for review of an arbitrator's decision may be made
     
  25. Requests for Clarification or Correction of Orders or Decisions April-22 (PDF) The power of residential tenancy arbitrators to clarify or correct decisions or orders
                                                                                                            
  26. Advocates, Agents and Assistants Jun-18 (PDF) The role of advocates, agents and assistants in dispute resolution proceedings
     
  27. Jurisdiction Nov-22 (PDF) The jurisdiction of residential tenancy arbitrators
     
  28. Pet Clauses Jan-16 (PDF) How pet clauses can be used in residential tenancy agreements
     
  29. Security Deposits Jan-04 (PDF) How security deposits are used and managed for residential tenancies
     
  30. Fixed Term Tenancies July-22 (PDF) Fixed-term residential tenancy agreement information – especially as it relates to ending and renewing this type of agreement 
     
  31. Pet Damage Deposits Jan-04 (PDF) When pet damage deposits may be required, what they’re intended to cover and when the landlord can keep all or part of the deposit
     
  32. Illegal Activities June-19 (PDF) What activities and circumstances are considered "illegal" and how this impacts a tenancy agreement
     
  33. Ending a Manufactured Home Tenancy Agreement – Landlord use of Property June-18 (PDF) Ending a manufactured home tenancy so that the landlord can use the property for another purpose
     
  34. Frustration Jan-04 (PDF) What happens when tenancy agreements become frustrated contracts and how this impacts a tenancy
     
  35. Transition – Security Deposits Mar-04 (PDF) Information about security deposits and the transition between the old and the new Residential Tenancy Act

  36. Extending a Time Period Apr-04 (PDF) The exceptional circumstances under which an arbitrator may extend or modify a time limit established by the Residential Tenancy Act or the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act

  37. Permitted Rent Increases Feb-23 (PDF) Rent increases permitted under the Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act       

    A. Annual Rent Increase Sep-23 (PDF) The maximum annual allowable amount to increase rent

    B. Agreed Rent Increase Feb-23 (PDF) How a landlord and tenant can mutually agree to increase rent 

    C. Additional Rent Increase for Capital Expenditures Jun-23 (PDF) How to apply for an additional rent increase for capital expenditures

    D. Additional Rent Increase for Expenditures Feb-23 (PDF) How to apply for a rent increase to offset expenditures

  38. Repeated Late Payment of Rent Apr-04 (PDF) How a landlord can end a tenancy when a tenant is repeatedly late paying rent

  39. Landlord's Direct Requests Sep-21 (PDF) The key elements that need to be considered when making a landlord's direct request
     
  40. Useful Life of Building Elements Mar-12 (PDF) The life span of specific building components (e.g. doors, windows, flooring, fences, appliances, etc.) used when arbitrators make decisions about additional rent increases or damage claims
     
  41. Administrative Penalties May-22 (PDF) When and how administrative penalties are used
     
  42. Digital Evidence Feb.23 (PDF) How to submit digital evidence
     
  43. Naming Parties Sep-22 (PDF) How parties to dispute resolution should be named
     
  44. Format of Hearings Nov-21 (PDF) Considerations when determining whether to schedule a hearing in a format other than by telephone conference call
     
  45. Adjourning and Rescheduling a Dispute Resolution Hearing Oct-15 (PDF) Key considerations when determining whether to adjourn or reschedule a dispute resolution hearing
     
  46. Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, Supportive Housing Feb-23 (PDF) The differences between emergency shelter, transitional housing and supportive housing and how the Residential Tenancy Act applies
     
  47. Access to Records and Information April-22 (PDF) Considerations for employees and the public when dealing with requests for access to records

     49. Tenant’s Direct Request – May-22 (PDF) What needs to be considered when making a tenant's direct request

  1. Compensation for Ending a Tenancy. Jan-23 (PDF) Addresses the requirements for a landlord to pay compensation to a tenant

  2. Expedited Hearings Sep.23 (PDF) A faster hearing process for an early end to tenancy, order of possession for a tenant and emergency repairs.

  3. COVID-19 Repayment Plans and Related Measures - How to structure a repayment plan for unpaid rent or utilities incurred during the specified period of March 18, 2020 to August 17, 2020.

    53. Publishing Administrative Penalties (June-20) PDF What information can be included in published administrative penalty decisions.

    54. Ending a tenancy: Order of Possession (July-22) PDF Factors that may be considered in determining an effective date of an order of possession. 

The content on this website is periodically reviewed and updated by the Province of British Columbia as per the date noted on each page: September 13, 2023.

Contact the Residential Tenancy Branch