As a tenant in British Columbia, it is important to know your rights under the Residential Tenancy Act. The following are things that landlords are not allowed to do according to the Residential Tenancy Branch:
Key Takeaways about Landlord Restrictions in British Columbia
- The Residential Tenancy Branch enforces strict rules about security deposits, limiting them to half a month's rent.
- Landlords must provide proper notice of entry at least 24 hours before accessing a rental unit.
- Rent increases in British Columbia must follow specific guidelines and cannot occur more than once per year.
- Property owners cannot interfere with a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment of their rental property.
- Landlords must follow proper procedures for maintenance and repairs to ensure the property remains livable.
- Security deposits can only be collected at the start of tenancy and must be used appropriately.
- Landlords cannot make unauthorized changes to locks or security systems during a lease term.
- Keep your Income Tax Information - Landlords are not allowed to withhold or store tax information from a prospective tenant during the rental application process, including your T4 or income tax assessment.
- Increase rent beyond the rental increase guidelines (0% in 2021 in British Columbia)
- Increase rent more than once during a fixed-term tenancy or within a 12-month period
- Ask for one month's rent as security deposit. In British Columbia, a security deposit for a rental unit must not exceed the equivalent of ½ month's rent.
- Ask for a security deposit in the middle of a lease agreement. A security deposit can only be collected from a tenant at the beginning of their tenancy through proper documentation. After that, property owners have no right to request it.
- Increase rent without warning. Property managers and landlords are required to use the approved form "Notice of Rent Increase" and provide the tenant with a period of three month's notice when increasing their rent according to the Residential Tenancy Act.
- Interfere with the tenant's quiet enjoyment of the rental property - Tenants deserve to live in a safe and clean environment. Property owners should not purposefully or negligently cause alterations to the rental unit, and they must perform proper maintenance and repairs so that it remains livable.
- Install new locks or other security measures after the current lease agreement has expired - Landlords may not change locks, alarm systems, or anything else without providing proper notice to tenants and giving them information about how it will affect their property.
- Enter the property without proper notice - While it is every landlord's right to conduct property inspections under certain conditions, there are strict rules about property access. Landlords must provide written notice of entry at least 24 hours in advance through the proper documentation. The Residential Tenancy Branch requires landlords to have a valid reason for entering the rental unit, or it could constitute illegal search and seizure. Property owners should never enter a tenant's apartment without permission unless there is an emergency situation.
- Use a tenant's security deposit for other purposes - Property managers and landlords may not use the tenant's security deposit for any reason other than repairs related to damage caused by the tenant, as specified in the lease agreement. In certain provinces, the security deposit may be used to cover unpaid rent but you will need to check the specific rental agreement terms for your province.
