Difference between revisions of "Moving out and Residential Tenancies (19:X)"

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(Created page with "{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = landlord}} == A. Tenant Obligations == *Give proper notice; *participate in move-out condition inspection; *leave the unit clean; *repair da...")
 
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If  a  tenant  moves  out  before  their  fixed  term  ends  without  finding  another  tenant  approved  by  the landlord  to  take  over  the  fixed  term  tenancy,  the  tenant may  be  responsible  for  the  landlord’s advertising  and  administrative  costs  incurred  in  finding  a new  tenant,  as  well  as  rent  (at  the  tenancy agreement rate) until the unit is rented or the fixed term expires.
If  a  tenant  moves  out  before  their  fixed  term  ends  without  finding  another  tenant  approved  by  the landlord  to  take  over  the  fixed  term  tenancy,  the  tenant may  be  responsible  for  the  landlord’s advertising  and  administrative  costs  incurred  in  finding  a new  tenant,  as  well  as  rent  (at  the  tenancy agreement rate) until the unit is rented or the fixed term expires.
'''NOTE:'''                Refer  to  the  tenancy  agreement,  as  some  agreements  will  have  move-out  clauses  that  will express what a tenant’s obligations will be upon breaking their fixed term tenancy.
'''NOTE:'''              A landlord cannot evict a tenant except for cause during the term of a fixed-term tenancy. A  landlord  may  not  give  a  notice  before  the end  of  the  fixed  term even  if  the  property is sold or the landlord’s family wishes to move into the rental unit.
=== 1. Right to Assign or Sublet and Duty to Obtain Consent ===
According to s 34 of the RTA, a tenant may assign or sublet his or her interest in a tenancy agreement with the consent of the landlord; in other words, the landlord’s consent is always required for  an  assignment  or  subletting  of  the  agreement. However,  the landlord  must  not be arbitrary or unreasonable in withholding consent if the tenant has a fixed term tenancy of six months or more (s 34(2)). A tenant may apply for an Arbitrator’s order where a landlord has  unreasonably  withheld  consent:  see  RTA  s  65(1)(g).  Section  34(3),  stipulates  that  a landlord must not charge a tenant anything for considering, investigating or consenting to an assignment or sublease.
Public housing tenants or tenants receiving a rent subsidy (those renting premises owned by the  Crown,  or  by  a  non-profit  organization  receiving  rental  subsidy  by  agreement  with  the Crown, or whose landlord is the B.C. Housing Management Commission)  are exempt from these  assignment  and  sublet  provisions.  Generally  this means  a  subsidized  housing  tenant cannot assign or sublet a rental unit.
Permitting  an  occupation  by  way  of  a  license  contract  does  not  constitute  assignment  or subletting. The contract must actually create a license, and not a sub-tenancy.
See RTB Policy Guideline 19: Assignment and Sublet.

Revision as of 06:47, 3 July 2016



A. Tenant Obligations

  • Give proper notice;
  • participate in move-out condition inspection;
  • leave the unit clean;
  • repair damage caused (above normal wear and tear), including damage caused by guests or pets above normal wear and tear levels; and
  • remove all possessions from the rental unit and the residential property.

B. Landlord Obligations

  • Give proper notice;
  • schedule and participate in the move-out condition inspection and provide the tenant with a copy of the condition inspection report; and
  • return security deposit and pet damage deposit or file to retain them in accordance with the RTA (see Section V.C: Refund of Security Deposit and Pet Damage Deposit).

C. Condition: Moving Out

The landlord and tenant together must inspect the condition of the rental unit before a new tenant begins to occupy the rental unit on or after the day the tenant ceases to occupy the rental unit, or on another mutually agreed day (RTA, s 35(1)). The landlord must offer the tenant at least two opportunities for the inspection and must complete the inspections report in accordance with the RTR. Both the landlord and tenant must sign the condition inspection report and the landlord must give the tenant a copy of that report in accordance with the RTR – within 15 days of the date the condition inspection is completed or the date the landlord receives the tenant’s forwarding address in writing, whichever is later.

1. Landlord

Unless the tenant abandons a rental unit, the right of the landlord to claim against a security or a pet damage deposit, or both, for damage to residential property is extinguished if the landlord does not offer the tenant at least two opportunities for the inspection or does not participate on either occasion, or having made an inspection with the tenant does not complete the condition inspection report and give the tenant a copy of it in accordance with the RTR.

2. Tenant

The right of a tenant to the return of a security deposit or a pet damage deposit, or both is extinguished if the landlord complies with RTA s 35 (provides two opportunities for inspections), and the tenant has not participated on either occasion (s 36(1)).

D. Breaking a Fixed-Term Tenancy

If a tenant moves out before their fixed term ends without finding another tenant approved by the landlord to take over the fixed term tenancy, the tenant may be responsible for the landlord’s advertising and administrative costs incurred in finding a new tenant, as well as rent (at the tenancy agreement rate) until the unit is rented or the fixed term expires.

NOTE: Refer to the tenancy agreement, as some agreements will have move-out clauses that will express what a tenant’s obligations will be upon breaking their fixed term tenancy.

NOTE: A landlord cannot evict a tenant except for cause during the term of a fixed-term tenancy. A landlord may not give a notice before the end of the fixed term even if the property is sold or the landlord’s family wishes to move into the rental unit.

1. Right to Assign or Sublet and Duty to Obtain Consent

According to s 34 of the RTA, a tenant may assign or sublet his or her interest in a tenancy agreement with the consent of the landlord; in other words, the landlord’s consent is always required for an assignment or subletting of the agreement. However, the landlord must not be arbitrary or unreasonable in withholding consent if the tenant has a fixed term tenancy of six months or more (s 34(2)). A tenant may apply for an Arbitrator’s order where a landlord has unreasonably withheld consent: see RTA s 65(1)(g). Section 34(3), stipulates that a landlord must not charge a tenant anything for considering, investigating or consenting to an assignment or sublease.

Public housing tenants or tenants receiving a rent subsidy (those renting premises owned by the Crown, or by a non-profit organization receiving rental subsidy by agreement with the Crown, or whose landlord is the B.C. Housing Management Commission) are exempt from these assignment and sublet provisions. Generally this means a subsidized housing tenant cannot assign or sublet a rental unit.

Permitting an occupation by way of a license contract does not constitute assignment or subletting. The contract must actually create a license, and not a sub-tenancy.

See RTB Policy Guideline 19: Assignment and Sublet.