Repair and Service of Tenant’s Residence (19:VII)

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 2, 2023.

A. Duty to Provide and Maintain Rental Unit in Repair

1. Landlord

Sections 32(1)(a) and (b) of the RTA provide that a landlord must provide and maintain residential property in a state of decoration and repair that complies with the health, housing and safety standards required by law, and having regard to the age, character, and location of the rental unit. It must be suitable for tenant occupation.

A landlord is responsible for repairing:

• the rental structure, and roof;
• heating, plumbing, electricity;
• locks, walls, floors, ceilings;
• fire doors, and fire escapes;
• intercoms, elevators; and
• anything else included in a tenant’s rent if identified in the tenancy agreement.

If a landlord is required to make a repair to comply with the above obligations, the tenant should notify the landlord of the need for repair (preferably in writing). If the landlord refuses to make the repair, the tenant may seek an Arbitrator’s order. If the tenant fails to notify the landlord and substantial damage results from the lack of repair, the tenant may have to pay for the damage.

When a tenant goes to the RTB to request a repair order, they may also request a rent reduction until the repair is complete. The RTA states that a tenant must pay their rent in full and on time, regardless of whether the tenant believes the landlord has fulfilled their obligations. A tenant can only make deductions from their rent if they are expressly authorized to do so under a provision of the RTA (such as where a tenant has previously overpaid rent) or if an RTB Arbitrator orders that they may do so.

Landlords are generally responsible for arranging and paying for bed bug treatment. According to section 32 of the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords must ensure that their rental property is suitable for occupation and compliant with health, safety, and housing standards required by law. In addition, Residential Tenancy Branch Policy Guideline 1 says, “the landlord is generally responsible for major projects, such as … insect control.” If your landlord believes that you caused the infestation, they should still pay for treatment within a reasonable period of time, and then seek to recover compensation from you after the fact.

2. Tenant

Tenants must maintain “ordinary health, cleanliness and sanitary standards” in their rental unit. Tenants must also repair damage caused to the rental unit and property (this includes common areas) by their or their pet’s willful or negligent acts or omissions, or those of a person permitted by them on the rental unit or property (RTA s 32(3)). There is no duty to repair reasonable wear and tear (s 32(4)).

Tenants are also obligated to maintain the property in a sanitary condition. This includes notifying the landlord of any suspected pest infestation. Upon discovery of a pest infestation, the tenant is obligated to cooperate with the landlord in treating the infestation. If tenants do not cooperate, they could be found liable for the cost of treatment or be evicted. The landlord is obligated to get rid of the infestation unless it can be proven the tenant brought the pests with them when they moved in.

If a landlord refuses to have the suite or building treated, the tenant can apply to the RTB for an order compelling the landlord to do so, or as noted above can get an order from a city inspector. Vancouver Coastal Health no longer does inspections but is available to answer questions over the phone at 604-675-3800.

B. Withholding Rent

A tenant cannot withhold rent because of repairs needed unless an Arbitrator gives an order permitting it. Another way to seek repairs can be through the local municipality’s Standards of Maintenance bylaw however this is only the case in some municipalities, for example, Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and New Westminster. Tenants should check with the municipality to see if there is a Standards of Maintenance bylaw in place. A tenant can call a local municipality and ask for a free inspection if the repair problem relates to structural defects (requiring a building inspector) or fire problems (e.g., fire inspection for fire exits, smoke alarms). The inspection may result in a formal report and may require the landlord to conduct repairs. The inspection report can also be important evidence to present at an RTB dispute resolution when seeking a Repair Order or an Order for a reduction in rent.

NOTE: There is a risk attached to calling a City Inspector. The inspection could result in the municipality ordering the suite vacated, resulting in eviction for the tenants.

C. Emergency Repairs

Before advising any tenant on this course of action, an advocate should be aware that this is a rather complicated area. To qualify, the repairs must fall into the categories below and must be urgent and necessary for the health and safety of persons or the preservation and use of the property and rental units. Pursuant to s 33, a tenant may conduct emergency repairs without going to dispute resolution if the landlord fails to make repairs within a reasonable time after a tenant has made a reasonable effort on two or more occasions to contact the landlord. Sometimes there is a discrepancy between what a tenant, landlord, and RTB might consider ‘emergency’ repairs. Before a tenant conducts any repairs, they should call the Residential Tenancy Branch, speak to an Information Officer, and make note of the Officer’s name and what the Officer tells them. The specific types of repairs that may qualify as emergency repairs are urgent, necessary for the health, safety or preservation of property and concern:

• major leaks in the pipes or roof;
• damaged or blocked water or sewer pipes or plumbing fixtures;
• malfunction of the central or primary heating system;
• defective locks that give access to the residential premises;
• electrical system repair.

Tenants must follow the exact procedure under s 33(3) of the RTA, or the landlord can make a claim against the tenant, or serve a 10-day notice to end tenancy for non-payment of rent. All steps taken should be documented fully. Emergency repairs usually constitute a large repair bill and should only be undertaken by the tenant in the clearest of circumstances. When in doubt, apply first to an Arbitrator for a Repair Order, refer to a Property Use Inspector, or investigate local Standards of Maintenance bylaws.

D. Terminating or Restricting Services or Facilities

A service or facility, as defined in s 1 of the RTA, applies to any of the following that are provided or agreed to be provided to the tenant by the landlord:

(a) Appliances and furnishings;

(b) Utilities and related services;

(c) Cleaning and maintenance services;

(d) Parking spaces and related facilities;

(e) Cablevision facilities;

(f) Laundry facilities;

(g) Storage facilities;

(h) Elevators;

(i) Common recreational facilities;

(j) Intercom systems;

(k) Garbage facilities and related services;

(l) Heating facilities or services

(m) Housekeeping services

Sections 27(1)(a) and (b) of the RTA provides that a landlord must not terminate or restrict a service or facility if it is essential to the tenant’s use of the rental unit as living accommodation, or providing the service or facility is a material term of the tenancy agreement.

Section 27(2) of the RTA provides that a landlord may terminate or restrict a service or facility other than one referred to in ss 27(1)(a) or (b) if the landlord gives 30 days written notice, in the approved form, of the termination or restriction, and reduces the rent in an amount that is equivalent to the reduction in the value of the tenancy agreement resulting from the termination or restriction of the service or facility. The tenant may dispute the restriction or termination on the basis that the service being restricted or terminated constitutes an essential service.

See RTB Policy Guideline 22: Termination or Restriction of a Service or Facility.

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