Tenant Survival Guide

The Tenant Survival Guide is intended to give tenants a basic understanding of residential tenancy law in British Columbia and what it means to them. The Guide is produced by the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre, an educational organization promoting tenants' rights and affordable housing in British Columbia.

Cover of Tenant Survival Guide

Contents

• Introduction
• Before Renting
  • The law in BC · Are you covered by the law? · Landlords, owners, and agents · Legislation and links
• Making Your Agreement
  • Budgeting for rental housing · Identifying rental needs and preferences · Searching for rental housing · Viewing a rental unit · Personal information · Discrimination · Legislation and links
• Condition Inspection Reports
  • Protect yourself with a written contract · Penalty for not participating · Setting a time · Required information · Legislation and links
• Security Deposits and Additional Fees
  • Security deposit and pet damage deposit · Extra deposits and non-refundable fees · Getting your deposit back · Legislation and links
• Repairs and Services
  • Landlord and tenant responsibilities · Getting repairs done and services back · Emergency repairs · Legislation and links
• Rent Increases
  • Regulations · Notice of rent increase · Above guideline increases · Extra occupants · Legislation and links
• Privacy & Quiet Enjoyment
  • Privacy in your home · Noise and disturbances · Locks and access · Guests · Legislation and links
• Evictions
  • Notice · Illegal activity · Eviction for not paying rent · Eviction for cause · Eviction for "landlord use" of property · Early eviction · Applying for dispute resolution · Order to move out · Legislation and links
• Moving Out
  • Giving notice · Breaking a lease · Cleaning and move-out inspection · Legislation and links
• Dispute Resolution
  • What is dispute resolutions? · How to apply · Applying for dispute resolution as a group · How to prepare for a hearing · At the hearing · Conference call hearings · Collecting money from the landlord · Review of a dispute resolution decision · Legislation and links
• Taking Action
  • Here's what you can do when · Tenant groups · Media
• Other Resources for Tenants
  • Housing alternatives · Government · Advocacy and referral services · Legal help · Online resources

About this Guide

The Tenant Survival Guide is produced by TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre and is intended to give tenants a basic understanding of residential tenancy law in British Columbia and what it means to them. Learn more about this Guide.

About TRAC, the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre

The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre is an educational organization promoting tenants' rights and affordable housing in British Columbia.

Tenant Infoline

1-604-255-0546

Toll-free: 1-800-665-1185

Website: tenants.bc.ca

Tenant Survival Guide © TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.