Difference between revisions of "Guidelines and Resources for Landlord and Tenant Law (19:XVII)"

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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= August 2, 2023}}
{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= August 15, 2024}}
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{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = landlord}}


== '''A. Legislation and Regulations''' ==
== A. The Residential Tenancy Branch ==


''Residential Tenancy Act'', SBC 2002, c 78 [RTA].<BR>
The ''Residential Tenancy Act'', SBC 2002, c 78 [''''RTA''''] and ''Residential Tenancy Regulation'' [''RTR''], BC Reg 477/2003 as well as the rules of procedure are amended occasionally; check the [http://www.gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) website] to get the most up to date information, including current forms, fees, and Policy Guidelines.
Website: https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01


''Residential Tenancy Regulation'', BC Reg 477/2003, [RTR].<BR>
=== 1. Main Office ===
Website: https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/477_2003


* The RTA and RTR set out the law of residential tenancies in BC. They will often hold the ultimate answer to questions relating to disputes between landlords and tenants.
Address: 400 - 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4A5
* For the current status of the RTA and RTR, refer to CCH British Columbia Real Estate Law Guide, Robert J. Maguire, Rose H. McConnell, loose-leaf (Toronto, ON: CCH, undated).
Office Hours: M – F 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
[https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/help Website]


''Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act'', SBC 2002, c 77 [MHPTA].<BR>
=== 2. Information Line ===
Website: https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02077_01


''Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Regulation'', BC Reg 481/2003<BR>
Metro Vancouver: 604-660-1020
Website: https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/481_2003
Victoria: 250-387-1602
Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-665-8779
Fax: 604-660-2363
Email: HSRTO@gov.bc.ca


The ''Residential Tenancy Act'', SBC 2002, c 78 [RTA] and ''Residential Tenancy Regulation [RTR]'', BC Reg 477/2003 as well as the rules of procedure are amended occasionally; check the [https://www.gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) website] to get the most up to date information.
=== 3. Residential Tenancy Information Sheets ===


== '''B. Resources and Policy Guidelines''' ==
[https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/calculators-and-resources/information-sheets-resources Website]
 
=== 4. RTB Calculators ===


'''TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre'''<BR>
Help in calculating rent increases, dates, deposits and more.
Website: https://www.tenants.bc.ca
[https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/calculators-and-resources/tenancy-calculators Website]
== B. Resources ==


Provides a variety of publications relating to tenant law, including the Tenant Survival Guide (also available online as a wikibook, via the Clicklaw website: wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php/Tenant_Survival_Guide)  
=== 1. Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) ===


'''Residential Tenancy Branch'''
Provides a variety of publications relating to tenant law, including the Tenant Survival Guide (also available online as [https://wiki.clicklaw.bc.ca/index.php/Tenant_Survival_Guide) a wikibook via the Clicklaw website].


''Main Office:''<BR>
[http://www.tenants.bc.ca Website]
400 - 5021 Kingsway<BR>
Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4A5<BR>
=== 2. BC Housing ===
Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies<BR>
Office Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 4:00 pm


''Information line:''
Information for tenants living in public, subsidized housing.
*Metro Vancouver 604-660-1020
*Victoria 250-387-1602
*Elsewhere in BC 1-800-665-8779
*Fax: 604-660-2363
*E-mail: HSRTO@gov.bc.ca


''Downtown Eastside Satellite Office:''<BR>
Address: Suite 101 - 4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4V8
Four Corners<BR>
Toll-free: 1-800-257-7756
390 Main Street (Entrance on Hastings)<BR>
[http://www.bchousing.org Website]
Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T1<BR>
Office Hours: M-F 12:30 pm - 4:00pm
=== 3. LandlordBC ===


:'''NOTE:''' The main office in Burnaby is a full-service office. The Downtown Eastside office is a satellite office and does not handle money. Dispute applications can only be filed there by low-income applicants who are eligible for a fee waiver. Those offices are staffed with information officers.  
Direct: 1-888-330-6707
E-mail: info@landlordbc.ca
[http://www.landlordbc.ca Website]


The [https://www.gov.bc.ca/landlordtenant RTB website] contains forms, legislation and RTB interpretation guidelines, and includes the following useful publications:
==== a) Vancouver Office ====
*''Residential Tenancy Branch Dispute Resolution Rules of Procedure''<BR>
**Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housing-and-tenancy/residential-tenancies/rop.pdf
*''Residential Tenancy Information Sheets''<BR>
**Website: http://bit.ly/1KTmo6l
*''RTB Policy Guidelines: Detailed information on common problem areas; drafted by RTB Arbitrators''<BR>
**Website: https://bit.ly/1ei1NfH
*''RTB Calculators: Help in calculating rent increases, dates, deposits and more''<BR>
**Website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/calculators-and-resources/calculators 


'''B.C. Housing'''<BR>
Address: 1210-1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2M6
Suite 101 - 4555 Kingsway<BR>
Telephone: 604-733-9420
Burnaby, B.C. V5H 4V8<BR>
Fax: 604-733-9420
Website: https://www.bchousing.org<BR>
Toll-free: 1-800-257-7756<BR>


Information for tenants living in public, subsidized housing.<BR>
==== b) Victoria Office ====


'''Landlord BC'''<BR>
Address: 830B Pembroke Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 1J9
Website: https://landlordbc.ca<BR>
Telephone: 250-382-6324
E-mail: info@landlordbc.ca<BR>
Fax (Local): 250-382-6006
Direct: 1-888-330-6707<BR>
Fax (Toll-Free): 1-877-382-6006


''Vancouver Office:''<BR>
=== 4. Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) ===
1210-1095 West Pender Street<BR>
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 2M6<BR>
Telephone: 604-733-9420<BR>
Fax: 604-733-9420<BR>


''Victoria Office:''<BR>
The SAFER program is a rental assistance program administered by BC Housing. It is intended to help senior citizens over 60. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, authorized to take up permanent residence in Canada, or Convention refugees. Applicants must have lived in BC for at least one year prior to applying. An applicant must also be paying over 30 percent of their income towards rent. There is a gross monthly income requirement that varies depending on the location of residence and is subject to being updated. 
830B Pembroke Street<BR>
Victoria, British Columbia V8T 1J9<BR>
Telephone: 250-382-6324<BR>
Fax Local: 250-382-6006<BR>
Fax Toll-Free: 1-877-382-6006


== '''C. Books''' ==
Residents of subsidized housing, cooperative housing, and manufactured homes (unless they are renting both the trailer home and the pad) do not qualify for the SAFER program.


Margaret Carter-Pyne, Residential Tenancy Law in British Columbia: Everything you need to know to prevent a disaster (Victoria, BC: Sunnymead Publishing, 2009).
More information and application forms are available from B.C. Housing. Application forms are available in English and Chinese. Application forms may be obtained from [https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-assistance/SAFER SAFER’s webpage], or by contacting B.C. housing.
 
=== 5. BC Housing Corporation’s Family Rental Assistance Program (RAP) ===
 
The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income, working families with at least one dependent child with assistance to help pay their rent. The maximum gross annual household income level is $ 40,000. A child up to age 25 qualifies as dependant as long as the child is attending school. A child of any age with mental or physical infirmity is accepted as a dependant.
 
For a rental assistance calculator as well as other information and application forms, see [http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Rental_market/RAP here] or contact BC Housing.
 
=== C. Books ===
 
Margaret Carter-Pyne, ''Residential Tenancy Law in British Columbia: Everything you need to know to prevent a disaster'' (Victoria, BC: Sunnymead Publishing, 2009).
*A useful resource for tenants in preparing for a hearing.
*A useful resource for tenants in preparing for a hearing.
Allan Wotherspoon, Annotated British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act (Aurora, ON: Canada Law Book, 2005).
 
Allan Wotherspoon, ''Annotated British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act'' (Aurora, ON: Canada Law Book, 2005).
*This is a loose-leaf volume updated once or twice annually.
*This is a loose-leaf volume updated once or twice annually.
CCH British Columbia Real Estate Law Guide, Robert J. Maguire, Rose H. McConnell, loose-leaf (Toronto, ON: CCH, undated).
* A summary of the state of the RTA and RTR.


CCH ''British Columbia Real Estate Law Guide'', Robert J. Maguire, Rose H. McConnell, loose-leaf (Toronto, ON: CCH, undated).
*A summary of the state of the ''RTA'' and ''RTR''.


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Revision as of 09:07, 30 August 2024

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on August 15, 2024.



A. The Residential Tenancy Branch

The Residential Tenancy Act, SBC 2002, c 78 ['RTA'] and Residential Tenancy Regulation [RTR], BC Reg 477/2003 as well as the rules of procedure are amended occasionally; check the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) website to get the most up to date information, including current forms, fees, and Policy Guidelines.

1. Main Office

Address: 400 - 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4A5 Office Hours: M – F 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Website

2. Information Line

Metro Vancouver: 604-660-1020 Victoria: 250-387-1602 Elsewhere in BC: 1-800-665-8779 Fax: 604-660-2363 Email: HSRTO@gov.bc.ca

3. Residential Tenancy Information Sheets

Website

4. RTB Calculators

Help in calculating rent increases, dates, deposits and more.

Website

B. Resources

1. Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC)

Provides a variety of publications relating to tenant law, including the Tenant Survival Guide (also available online as a wikibook via the Clicklaw website.

Website

2. BC Housing

Information for tenants living in public, subsidized housing.

Address: Suite 101 - 4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4V8 Toll-free: 1-800-257-7756 Website

3. LandlordBC

Direct: 1-888-330-6707 E-mail: info@landlordbc.ca Website

a) Vancouver Office

Address: 1210-1095 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2M6 Telephone: 604-733-9420 Fax: 604-733-9420

b) Victoria Office

Address: 830B Pembroke Street, Victoria, BC, V8T 1J9 Telephone: 250-382-6324 Fax (Local): 250-382-6006 Fax (Toll-Free): 1-877-382-6006

4. Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)

The SAFER program is a rental assistance program administered by BC Housing. It is intended to help senior citizens over 60. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, authorized to take up permanent residence in Canada, or Convention refugees. Applicants must have lived in BC for at least one year prior to applying. An applicant must also be paying over 30 percent of their income towards rent. There is a gross monthly income requirement that varies depending on the location of residence and is subject to being updated.

Residents of subsidized housing, cooperative housing, and manufactured homes (unless they are renting both the trailer home and the pad) do not qualify for the SAFER program.

More information and application forms are available from B.C. Housing. Application forms are available in English and Chinese. Application forms may be obtained from SAFER’s webpage, or by contacting B.C. housing.

5. BC Housing Corporation’s Family Rental Assistance Program (RAP)

The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income, working families with at least one dependent child with assistance to help pay their rent. The maximum gross annual household income level is $ 40,000. A child up to age 25 qualifies as dependant as long as the child is attending school. A child of any age with mental or physical infirmity is accepted as a dependant.

For a rental assistance calculator as well as other information and application forms, see here or contact BC Housing.

C. Books

Margaret Carter-Pyne, Residential Tenancy Law in British Columbia: Everything you need to know to prevent a disaster (Victoria, BC: Sunnymead Publishing, 2009).

  • A useful resource for tenants in preparing for a hearing.

Allan Wotherspoon, Annotated British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act (Aurora, ON: Canada Law Book, 2005).

  • This is a loose-leaf volume updated once or twice annually.

CCH British Columbia Real Estate Law Guide, Robert J. Maguire, Rose H. McConnell, loose-leaf (Toronto, ON: CCH, undated).

  • A summary of the state of the RTA and RTR.
© Copyright 2023, The Greater Vancouver Law Students' Legal Advice Society.