Moving In
Before moving day arrives, tenants and landlords should schedule a move-in time that works for everyone. Generally, tenants move in on the first day of their tenancy – the law does not set a specific time of day. In some cases, strata bylaws may require a landlord to schedule a move-in for a specific date and time.
Locks
If the locks haven’t been changed between tenants, the new tenant can ask the landlord to change the locks. The landlord is required to comply with this request and is responsible for covering any associated costs – a new tenant is not required to pay for this.
Inspect the Rental Unit
At the beginning of a tenancy, a landlord and tenant must inspect the rental unit together – this is sometimes called a “walk-through.” This should be done:
- When the unit is empty
- After the previous tenant has moved out and before the new tenant moves in
Watch a video on Condition Inspections
| STEP1: Schedule the Inspection It’s the landlord’s responsibility to schedule the initial condition inspection (“walk-through”). Both landlords and tenants should be flexible and reasonable when arranging a suitable time for the inspection together. It’s acceptable for a tenant to authorize another person to attend the inspection on their behalf – as long as they notify the landlord before the inspection. If the first attempt to schedule an inspection isn’t successful, the landlord must make an offer to schedule the inspection in writing: If there’s no response to the final written notice, the landlord completes the inspection alone and gives the tenant a copy of the final inspection report. This means that the tenant may lose their right to the security deposit because later on they won’t be able to dispute damage claims or disagree with the landlord’s inspection report. Landlords must follow the inspection procedure closely in order to claim any deposit money for damage done to the rental unit. |
| STEP 2: Get the Form The landlord should bring along a printed copy of the Condition Inspection Report (PDF, 1.6MB) to the inspection. The completed report will serve as an official record of the rental unit’s condition at the start of the tenancy. |
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STEP 3: Conduct the Inspection Be sure that all damages and concerns are noted in the report – it's a good idea to take photos, if possible. These items can be submitted as evidence if there’s a dispute about the rental unit’s condition at the end of the tenancy. |
| STEP 4: Sign the Condition Inspection Report The landlord and tenant must sign and date the inspection report. If a tenant disagrees with the landlord’s assessment, they should note any concerns or comments on the report before signing it. |
| STEP 5: Distribute Copies Within seven days of the inspection, the landlord must provide a copy of the completed Condition Inspection Report (PDF, 1.6MB) to the tenant(s). If there are more than two landlords or two tenants, the landlord should include the additional names on a separate form called the Schedule of Parties (PDF). |
Manufactured Home Parks
In a mobile home park, tenants usually own their manufactured home and rent the site that it sits on. In these cases, a landlord and tenant don’t have to do a condition inspection, unless the tenant is renting both the manufactured home and the manufactured home site under a residential tenancy agreement.
The person moving a manufactured home on or off the site may need to provide proof of insurance (or security) to the landlord if they request it.
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 23, 2021.
