When you apply for dispute resolution, you need to pay a filing fee. In some circumstances, you can apply for a fee waiver.
When you submit your application for dispute resolution, you need to pay the $100 filing fee.
In some circumstances, you can apply to have the fee waived.
You can apply to have the dispute resolution fee waived if you have:
To find out if you qualify for a fee waiver, check the Government of Canada's Low-Income cut-offs (LICOs) table.
If you're unsure if you qualify, submit the required details about your income and household and the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) will make an assessment.
For both online and by paper, you need to include details about your income and household.
Apply at the same time as you apply for dispute resolution
Apply by submitting a paper Application to Waive Filing Fee (PDF, 539KB) - Form RTB-17 to:
You need to include details about your income and household.
This application cannot be completed online, only paper applications are accepted.
However, if you are using the Online Application for Dispute Resolution:
Apply by submitting a paper Application to Waive Filing Fee (PDF, 539KB) - Form RTB-17 to:
Some fee waiver applications must be submitted within a certain amount of time.
For these applications, you must submit proof of income for a fee waiver before the application deadline expires.
They are:
Landlords or tenants who have incurred extraordinary expenses within the past 8 weeks that would make paying the filing fee a hardship, can apply for a fee waiver.
This application cannot be completed online, only paper applications are accepted.
Extraordinary expenses may include:
Landlords and tenants apply by submitting a paper Application to Waive Filing Fee (PDF, 539KB) - Form RTB-17, to the Residential Tenancy Branch or Service BC office
You need to include details about your income and household.
You must include details and proof of income for all household members to support your fee waiver application.
Copies of documentation proving the monthly income for all household members. Proof of income could include:
Include any other related information.
If you are applying online for a fee waiver, you must provide information to support the fee waiver including:
Tenants
Landlords
In your initial dispute resolution application form, you can request a filing fee reimbursement. The arbitrator makes this decision after your hearing.
To be reimbursed, you must have won your hearing and have checked the correct box in your dispute resolution application.
Apply at the same time as you submit your application for dispute resolution.
Check off the box in section 4 of the application.
Tenant application
Landlord application
Pay the filing fee online by:
You may pay the filing fee in person at the Residential Tenancy Branch or Service BC office by:
Sending a certified cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance to the: