Entering a Tenancy
Protect Yourself[edit]
The Residential Tenancy Act requires that your landlord provide you with a written tenancy agreement. The reason for this is that when an agreement is written, you have proof of what you and your landlord agreed to. This proof can come in handy if you have problems later on. Tenancy agreements tend to protect landlord’s interests, but may not protect yours. Before signing make sure you can live with the terms of the agreement.
Understand your agreement[edit]
Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. Read every word carefully, or have someone help you read the agreement. Do not sign the agreement until you are sure about what it says.
Get everything in writing. If your landlord agrees to clean or do repairs before you move in, write this in the agreement. If you add or change anything in the agreement, both you and your landlord should write your initials beside every change.
Ask your landlord to cross off any parts of the agreement you want changed. For example, if the agreement says “no pets allowed” but your landlord says you can keep your dog, change that section or cross it off. Both you and the landlord should write your initials beside the change.
Get a copy of the signed agreement and keep it in a safe place. If the landlord breaks a promise, it will be hard for you to prove anything without your own copy.
Get your landlord’s name, address and phone number. You need to know with whom you are dealing. Get the name and phone number of the manager or agent you talk with, too. If a landlord or property manager does notwant to provide this information, you should reconsider renting from them.