Difference between revisions of "Tenant’s Rights of Entry, Quiet Enjoyment, and Privacy (19:VII)"

Arbitrators may not be particularly generous in assessing noise complaints. While tenants have a right to quiet enjoyment, they also have a duty not to disturb other tenants or landlords who also have a right to quiet enjoyment. There is no reciprocal right. However, a landlord may  end a tenancy for Cause with one month’ s notice if a tenant unreasonably disturbs the landlord or other occupants of the building. C.Duty to Provide A ccess Under RTA, ss 30(1) and (2), but subject to s 31, once a tenant has taken possession of a rental unit, a landlord is not allowed to change the  locks to the rental unit or property without first getting the tenant’ s permission and providing a new key. The landlord cannot change the locks or alter the means of access to the rental unit without the tenant’ s permission.On the request of a tenant at the beginning of a new tenancy agreement, the landlord must re-key or change the locks to the rental unit: see Section IV: Moving In. A landlord cannot restrict  access if a tenant has failed to pay rent. 1.Tenant: Changing the Locks If  the  landlord  changes  the  locks  in  contravention  of s  31  of  the  RTA, the  Arbitrator  may grant an order authorizing the tenant to change the locks. Also, if a tenant applies for dispute resolution,  an  Arbitrator  can  grant  permission  to  allow the  tenant  to  change  the  locks,  and give  the  tenant  the  right  to  withhold  a  copy  of  a  key  from  the  landlord  if  the  Arbitrator  is satisfied  that  the  landlord  may  contravene  s  31.It  should  be  noted  that  changing  a  lock without  an  order  can  be  grounds  for  eviction.  To  change  the  lock  legally,  the  tenant  must follow the procedure set out in RTA, s 31(2). D.Cash Payment Rules Section 26(1) provides that a landlord must provide a tenant with a receipt for rent paid in cash. If  a  tenant  makes  a cash  payment  and  receives  no  receipt,  the  tenant  should  send  a letter  to  the landlord confirming the payment, or pay with a witness present. E.Personal Property: Non-Payment of Rent Whether or not a tenant pays rent in accordance with the tenancy agreement, a landlord must notseize  any  personal  property  of  the  tenant,  or  prevent or interfere  with  the  tenant’ s  access  to  the tenant’ s  personal  property  (RTA,  s  26(3)).  The  only  exceptions  are  if  the  landlord  has  a  court order  authorizing  the  action,  or  if  the  tenant  has  abandoned  the  rental  unit  and  the  landlord complies with the regulations: see RTA ss (4)(a) and (b).