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Difference between revisions of "Repairs and Services When Renting"
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Repairs and Services When Renting (view source)
Revision as of 19:08, 23 January 2014
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*in a rental unit, major leaks in the roof, damaged or defective locks, damaged or blocked plumbing fixtures or the primary heating system, | *in a rental unit, major leaks in the roof, damaged or defective locks, damaged or blocked plumbing fixtures or the primary heating system, | ||
*in prescribed circumstances, a rental unit, residential property, a manufactured home site or manufactured home park. See Section 33 of the [[Residential Tenancy Act|RTA]]. | *in prescribed circumstances, a rental unit, residential property, a manufactured home site or manufactured home park. See Section 33 of the [[Residential Tenancy Act|RTA]]. | ||
===Contact your landlord=== | |||
The law says that your landlord has to post the name and phone number of an emergency contact person some place in your building where you can easily see it. If you need an emergency repair, phone the emergency contact person right away. You must try to reach the emergency contact person at least twice. If no number is posted, call the landlord or the manager. Make sure you write down | |||
the date and time of each call. | |||
===What if repairs are not done?=== | |||
You are allowed to pay someone else to do the repairs only if: | |||
*you talk to the emergency contact person and the landlord still does not do the repairs within a reasonable time, | |||
*OR, you cannot reach the contact person after two tries. | |||
It's a good idea to call different places to get repair cost estimates. Write down their prices and hire the cheapest one that is qualified to do the job. Keep all the receipts. Your landlord is allowed to take over the repair job at any time. | |||
===Getting money back=== | |||
Your landlord has to pay you back the cost of the emergency repairs if you followed the process required by the [[Residential Tenancy Act]]. Give the landlord a copy of your receipts and any information you wrote down. Keep the original receipts for yourself. If your landlord doesn’t pay you back, you can deduct the money from your rent. You may want more money from the landlord for other expenses; for example, if your things have been damaged in a flood that was the landlord’s fault. If you and your landlord cannot agree on fair compensation, you can apply for [[Dispute Resolution| dispute resolution]] at the [[Residential Tenancy Branch]]. | |||
===If your landlord doesn’t agree=== | |||
Your landlord may not agree to pay you back. The landlord may say that it wasn’t an emergency, or that the repairs cost too much. If this happens, your landlord can apply for [[Dispute Resolution|dispute resolution]]. You will have to let a dispute resolution | |||
officer decide. If the landlord wins, you might have to pay some or all of the money back. | |||
===You should have tenant insurance=== | |||
Your landlord cannot make you buy tenant insurance unless it is a term in your tenancy agreement. However, you should have insurance to cover damage to your belongings if, for example, there is unforeseen damage from a fire or | |||
flood. Tenant insurance is also a good idea because it will usually pay for a hotel if there is damage that prevents you from staying at your place. Your landlord is responsible for repairing damage to your unit but is not always responsible for the cost of your belongings. | |||
===When you’re unsure=== | |||
If you’re not sure that your situation is an emergency, phone the TRAC Tenant Information Line or the [[Residential Tenancy Branch]]. Follow all the steps required by regulation and get the work done as inexpensively as possible by someone who is qualified to do the work, or you might have to pay! | |||
