''Do'DO:' participate in '' complete a move-in and a move-out condition inspection, or else risk losing your deposit. ''Don't'' pay a deposit for a place If you are not sure you wantturn down your landlord’s offer to participate in one, or you may could lose your right to reclaim your security deposit and/or pet damage deposit.

== Security deposit and pet damage deposit == A landlord can ask you for a security deposit (also called a damage deposit) '''DO NOT:''' forget to cover secure your new home. You have the costs of damage right to the unit or property, or unpaid rent or utilities. The landlord can also ask for a pet damage deposit and deposits for extras like keys or garage door openers. Your your landlord can only ask for a security deposit when you first agree to rent the place. You must pay the full security deposit within 30 days after you move in or you can be evicted. ''See sections 20 and 47 of the [[Residential Tenancy Act|RTA]]re-key your locks at no charge.''

===Pet At the start of your tenancy, you and your landlord should walk through your rental unit and complete a move-in condition inspection report. This is a chance to fill out a checklist and document the condition of your new home. Completing this report when you move in, and then again when you move out, can help determine how much damage deposit===, if any, has been caused during your tenancy.

===According to [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/10_477_2003#section17 section 17] of the ''Residential Tenancy Regulation'', your landlord must offer you at least two opportunities – between 8am and 9pm – to complete the move-in condition inspection. If you get do not accept their first offer, your landlord is required to serve you with the RTB form, [https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housing-and-tenancy/residential-tenancies/forms/rtb22.pdf “Notice of Final Opportunity to Schedule a new landlord===Condition Inspection”]. If you are still unavailable for the second opportunity, you can ask someone else to participate on your behalf. Even if you are available to participate in the inspection, you may still want to consider bringing a friend or family member. Ideally, the move-in condition inspection report should be completed on the day your tenancy begins when the rental unit is still empty of your belongings. See [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section23 section 23] of the ''Residential Tenancy Act (RTA)'' for more information.

'''Pets:''' If your building is sold and you get a new landlord you don't have to pay a new deposit. You only have to pay a deposit when you move into a place, sign a new agreement, or get a pet. It is after the new start of your tenancy, you and your landlord's responsibility are required to get the deposits from your former landlord. The new landlord is responsible for paying back your deposit when you move outcomplete another condition inspection report.

===Applying deposit towards rentParticipating in the inspection===

You cannot use your security deposit towards your rent unless It can be a good idea to take photos and videos during the inspection, especially if you disagree with your landlord agrees to it in writingabout the condition of the rental unit. For example, Once you cannot pay only half of your last month's rent and tell have completed the landlord condition inspection, make sure to cover sign and date the rest with your security depositreport. If you do this the disagree with your landlord can evict you for non-payment about any part of rentthe inspection, which means you would have to there should be out in ten days, yet you would still owe rent for space on the entire monthform to list your concerns. If you owe rent when do not sign the report because you move out and there is no damage disagree with it, it may be difficult to the place or other payments prove that you owe participated in the inspection. Your landlord, must give you a copy of the completed report within seven days of completing the landlord can put inspection. Keep your security deposit towards what you still owe copy in rent. ''See section 21 of the [[Residential Tenancy Act|RTA]]a safe place and take photos for added protection.''

== Extra deposits and non-refundable fees =Consequences for not following the law===

The law allows landlords If your landlord does not give you a chance to charge participate in a move-in or move-out condition inspection, or does not provide you with a copy of either report within the required timelines, they lose the right to claim against your security or pet damage deposit for access devices like keys and automatic garage door openers or for equipment that is for damage to the tenant's use onlyrental unit. You cannot be charged a deposit for a key or access card Conversely, if it is you fail to participate in an inspection after receiving two opportunities, you may lose the right to have your only means deposit(s) returned. See [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section24 sections 24] and [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section36 36] of entry to your buildingthe ''RTA'' for more information.

===Non-refundable fees=Rental unit must be suitable for occupation==

In addition According to your rent and refundable deposits, [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section32 section 32] of the ''[[Residential Tenancy Act]]'' allows landlords to charge extra fees , your landlord must ensure that your new rental unit is reasonably suitable for certain services. The law allows a landlord to charge occupation, given the following fees:*direct cost age, character, and location of replacing keys or other access devicesthe unit. If there is something wrong with your new home,*direct cost of any additional keys that you request,*service fees charged by banks for NSF cheques, *are not allowed to change your mind and not move-in and move-. Instead of backing out fees charged by a strata corporation of your agreement, you will have to either request that your landlord fix the landlordproblem, and*fee for services or facilities requested by you that aren't covered in your tenancy agreement; apply for example, dispute resolution to seek a parking fee, if it wasn't in your original agreementrepair order.

As well, the landlord can charge the following fees as long as your tenancy agreement states that you may be charged these fees:*fee of not more than $25 for a NSF cheque or late payment of rent, ==Locks and*fee that is not more than $15 or three percent of the monthly rent as a fee for moving between units in a building if you requested the move.keys==

== Getting You have the right to feel safe and secure in your deposit back ==new home. To ensure that previous tenants no longer have access to your rental unit, ask your landlord to provide you with a new set of keys. Your landlord cannot charge you a fee for re-keying the locks at the start of your tenancy. See [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section25 section 25] of the ''Residential Tenancy Act'' for more information.

When Tenant insurance is yet another cost to consider in BC’s expensive rental housing market. If you move outare already struggling to pay your rent and bills, you must give your landlord a forwarding address may decide to pass on this additional expense. Tenant insurance may not be for everyone, but keep in writing where your security deposit can mind that you could be sent. This is required putting yourself at risk by lawnot having it. After your landlord receives your forwarding address and you In addition, some landlords require tenants to have moved outtenant insurance, the landlord has 15 days to return your security deposit so it is important to understand what you. The forwarding address does not have agreed to be where as part of your tenancy agreement. At the very least, consider doing some research on tenant insurance; it is probably more affordable than you livethink, but somewhere and it could end up saving you can receive mailin a time of crisis.

If Most tenant insurance policies cover the landlord wants to keep some or all of following:* '''Personal possessions:''' Tenant insurance can cover your depositlost clothes, furniture, appliances, electronics, etc. For example, you must either agree to it if there is a major flood in writingyour rental unit, or the landlord must apply for a [[Dispute Resolution for Tenants|dispute resolution]] hearing within 15 days from the day when you moved from might be able to use your tenant insurance to replace your place personal possessions.* '''Liability:''' Imagine you forget to turn off the stove and gave your forwarding address in writingstart a serious fire. If the landlord does not do thisyou cause damage to other tenants’ rental units, you could make a claim might be able to use your tenant insurance to pay for double the amount of your security depositthose expensive repairs or damaged possessions. You have two years from when your tenancy ended * '''Displacement:''' Natural disasters can force tenants to make a claim for your deposit at the Residential Tenancy Branchleave their homes temporarily. HoweverFor example, in order if you are displaced due to do thisa wildfire, tenant insurance might pay for your hotel and living expenses until you must provide your landlord with your forwarding address in writing within one year after the end of your tenancyare able to return.

===Interest===Your landlord is required Tenant insurance policies can vary from company-to pay you interest on your security deposit. However-company, the amount of interest required and person-to be paid is established yearly by the government-person. Some years you policies will replace stolen belongings with brand new items rather than items based on their current value, while others may not receive any interest on your deposit cover burglary at all if you live with multiple unrelated roommates. In addition, the prime lending rate cost of the principal banker to the province is less than 4.5 percent tenant insurance can vary depending on your credit, and whether you have had insurance in the first day of the calendar yearpast. You can go will have to do some research to find the Residential Tenancy Branch website company and use the rate calculator to find out how much you are owedpolicy that best fits your situation.