Tenancy Policy Guidelines Listed by Number

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
    
2. Ending a Tenancy For Landlord Use May-18(PDF)
   When a landlord can end a tenancy in order to change the use of the residential unit or manufactured home park site
    
3. Claims for Rent and Damages for Loss of Rent Jun-04 (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 Jan-04 (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 Jan-04 (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 Jan-04 (PDF)
    Amending or withdrawing the Notice to End Tenancy and the Notice of Rent Increase
     
12. Service Provisions June-18 (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 Jan-04 (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 May-18 (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 Oct-15 (PDF)
    Circumstances under which an Application for Dispute Resolution may be amended
     
24. Review Consideration of a Decision or Order Mar-16 (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 Dec-17 (PDF)
    The power of residential tenancy arbitrators to clarify or correct decisions or orders
                                                                                                            
26. Advocates, Agents and Assistants Sep-13 (PDF)
    The role of advocates, agents and assistants in dispute resolution proceedings
     
27. Jurisdiction June -19 (PDF)
    The jurisdiction of residential tenancy arbitrators
     
28. Pet Clauses Jan-04 (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 Oct-18 (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. Rent Increases Dec-17 (PDF)
    Rent increases permitted under the Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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. Direct Requests May-19 (PDF)
    The key elements that need to be considered when making a 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 Jan-12 (PDF)
    When and how administrative penalties are used
     
42. Digital Evidence Mar-19 (PDF)
    How to submit digital evidence
     
43. Naming Parties Oct-15 (PDF)
    How parties to dispute resolution should be named
     
44. Format of Hearings Oct-15 (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 Dec-16 (PDF)
    The differences between emergency shelter, transitional housing and supportive housing and how the Residential Tenancy Act applies
     
47. Access to Records and Information Feb-19 (PDF)
    Considerations for employees and the public when dealing with requests for access to records

     50. Compensation for Ending a Tenancy. Oct-18 (PDF)

           Addresses the requirements for a landlord to pay compensation to a tenant

     51. Expedited Hearings May-19 (PDF)

A faster hearing process for an early end to tenancy, order of possession for a tenant and emergency repairs

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 10, 2019

Contact the Residential Tenancy Branch