Difference between revisions of "Tenancy Agreements (19:II)"

Changes in the RTA allow more ability to agree to any term landlords and tenants wish, than the repealed Act did.                                                        However, a term of tenancy is unenforceable if (RTA, s 6): a)the term is inconsistent with this RTA or the regulations; b)the term is unconscionable; or NOTE:         The RTR defines “unconscionable” for the purposes of s 6(3)(b) of the RTA as follows: a term of a tenancy agreement is “unconscionable if the term is oppressive or grossly unfair to one party”. c)the term is not expressed in a manner that clearly communicates the rights and obligations under it. See Policy Guideline 8: Unconscionable and Material Terms. e)Pets In B.C., there is no law that allows tenants to have a pet. RTA, s 18 allows a tenancy agreement to include terms that prohibit pets, or restrict the size, kind or number of pets a tenant may keep on the residential property. In order to keep a pet one needs to have a term in one’ s  tenancy agreement that allows pets. If a tenancy agreement doesn’ t  allow pets and a tenant gets one anyway, the landlord can tell the tenant to remove it. If the tenant refuses,  the landlord may be able to give an effective eviction notice. RTA, s 18 is subject to the rights and restrictions under the Guide Animal ActRSBC  1996, c 177, s 4, which states that landlords must not deny tenancy or impose discriminatory terms on a person with a disability who intends to keep a guide animal in the rental unit. (1)New Pet: Where Permitted The landlord and tenant together must inspect the condition of the rental unit on or before the day the tenant starts keeping a pet or on another mutually agreed day where the landlord permits the tenant to keep a pet after the start of a tenancy (RTA, s 23(2)). Failure of the tenant or landlord to participate in the inspection may extinguish the right of the failing  party  to  the  rights  relating  to the  pet  deposit  (s 24(1)).  The  landlord  can  request  a  pet  damage  deposit  not  greater than ½ of a month’ s rent, regardless of the number of pets. f)Prescribing Terms Terms  and conditions  that  must  or  must  not  be included  in every written  tenancy agreement,  or  an  application for  an  agreement,  may  be  prescribed  by  an  order-in-council  and  may  prescribe  different  terms  for  different classes  of  tenancy agreements.    As discussed above, the RTR sets out in its schedule those terms that must be included in every tenancy agreement. g)Implied Obligations and Usual Terms (1)Landlord’ s Obligations