Serving Notices During Tenancy
Other than serving documents for dispute resolution, tenants and landlords may serve each other notices about their tenancy. Notices need to be in writing and all parties should keep copies.
Ending a Tenancy
Proper notice must be given in order to end a tenancy – find out how:
Notice Requirements
There are specific legal requirements and deadlines for the different types of notices:
- The tenancy agreement (landlord must give the tenant a printed agreement within 21 days of entering into the agreement)
- Condition inspection reports (landlord must give the tenant a copy of the completed inspection report within 7 days of completing the inspection)
- Landlord notices of rent increases (landlord must give the tenant three full months’ notice of the rent increase)
- Tenant requests for emergency repairs
- Tenant requests for repairs
- Landlord notices terminating or restricting services (landlord must give the tenant 30 days' written notice)
- Landlord notices to enter the rental unit (landlord must give the tenant at least 24 hours' written notice)
- Notices to end tenancy
- Tenant’s forwarding address
Make sure the notice you serve is legal:
Serving Notices to Landlords
There are rules about how and when a tenant can serve notice to a landlord. Use this table to determine whether a method is acceptable and when notice is considered served.
|
It’s considered received… |
|
|
Give a copy directly to the landlord |
Same day |
|
Leave a copy with the landlord’s agent (tenants should note the name of the person) |
Same day |
|
Send a copy by registered or |
5 days later when the landlord does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
| Attach a copy to the door or other noticeable place at the address at which the landlord carries on their business as a landlord | 3 days later when the landlord does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Leave a copy in a mailbox or mail slot at the address where the person does business as a landlord |
3 days later when the landlord does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Fax a copy to the service contact number provided by the landlord |
3 days later when the landlord does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Email a copy to the email address provided by the landlord *Note - email can only be used if a party has provided an email address specifically for service. |
3 days later when the landlord does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
In any other way that is ordered by the Residential Tenancy Branch |
Determined by the Residential Tenancy Branch |
|
Slide a copy under the landlord’s door |
Not considered served – this is an unacceptable method |
|
Using text messaging |
Not considered served – this is an unacceptable method |
1 An arbitrator may determine that a document was sufficiently given or served if they have evidence that the person received it; however, it is best to use an approved method of service.
Serving Notices to Tenants
There are rules about how and when a landlord can serve notice to a tenant. Use this table to determine whether a method is acceptable and when notice is considered served.
|
Method |
It’s considered received… |
|
Give a copy directly to the tenant |
Same day |
|
Send a copy by registered or |
5 days later when the tenant does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Attach a copy to the door or other noticeable place at the address where the tenant lives |
3 days later when the tenant does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Leave a copy with an adult (19 years or older) who apparently lives with the tenant (landlords should note the name of the person) |
Same day |
|
Leave a copy in a mailbox or mail slot at the address where the person lives |
3 days later when the tenant does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Fax a copy to the contact number provided by the tenant |
3 days later when the tenant does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
Email a copy to the email address provided by the tenant. *Note - email can only be used if a party has provided an email address specifically for service. |
3 days later when the tenant does not say or show that they received it on an earlier date |
|
In any other way that is ordered by the Residential Tenancy Branch |
Determined by the Residential Tenancy Branch |
|
Slide a copy under the tenant’s door |
Not considered served – this is an unacceptable method |
|
Using text messaging |
Not considered served – this is an unacceptable method |
2 An arbitrator may determine that a document was sufficiently given or served if they have evidence that the person received it; however, it is best to use an approved method of service.
Important Considerations
Here are a few things to remember when serving notice:
Calculating when a notice is considered served: Don’t count the day the document was mailed, faxed, attached to the door, etc. For example, if sending documents by ordinary mail on November 1st, the documents are considered to have been served on November 6th.
Keep copies of your proof of service: Regardless of the method used to serve notice, be prepared to satisfy the Residential Tenancy Branch or a court that the document was properly served.
Registered mail: Get a receipt from Canada Post and print the online tracking report from the Canada Post website. A person can’t avoid service by refusing to accept registered mail. Where registered mail
is refused or deliberately not picked up, service is considered to be on the fifth day after mailing.
Email: Email can only be used if a party has provided an email address specifically for service.
In-person: Get a sworn statement from somebody who personally delivered the documents or who witnessed you giving or sending the documents.
- Learn more in Policy Guideline (12) - Service Provisions (PDF), section 11: Deemed Receipt and section 12: Service of documents and time to respond
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 17 2021.
