Difference between revisions of "Living in Peace When Renting"

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==Guests==
==Guests==


According to [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/10_477_2003#Schedule section 9 of the Schedule] in the ''Residential Tenancy Regulation'', your landlord cannot unreasonably restrict guests from entering your rental property or charge you a fee for having guests visit – even if they stay overnight. However, at some point a “guest” becomes an “occupant”, so be reasonable when it comes to overnight visitors. The ''Residential Tenancy Act (RTA)'' does not provide any details on the maximum number of days a guest can visit, so use your best judgement.  
According to [http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/10_477_2003#Schedule section 9 of the Schedule] in the ''Residential Tenancy Regulation'', your landlord cannot unreasonably restrict guests from entering your rental property or charge you a fee for having guests visit – even if they stay overnight. However, at some point a “guest” becomes an “occupant”, so be reasonable when it comes to overnight visitors. The ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01 Residential Tenancy Act (RTA)]'' does not provide any details on the maximum number of days a guest can visit, so use your best judgement.  


Your tenancy agreement might try to limit the number of times guests can stay overnight throughout the year. If that is the case, remember that no tenancy agreement in BC can avoid the law, or contain unconscionable terms – even if it has been signed by the tenant. The ''RTA'' says that you can have guests visit and stay overnight under reasonable circumstances, and your landlord cannot take that right away. For example, if your tenancy agreement says that you can have overnight visitors for only 14 days per year, there is a reasonable argument to be made at dispute resolution that an arbitrator should find that term to be unconscionable and unenforceable.
Your tenancy agreement might try to limit the number of times guests can stay overnight throughout the year. If that is the case, remember that no tenancy agreement in BC can avoid the law, or contain unconscionable terms – even if it has been signed by the tenant. The ''RTA'' says that you can have guests visit and stay overnight under reasonable circumstances, and your landlord cannot take that right away. For example, if your tenancy agreement says that you can have overnight visitors for only 14 days per year, there is a reasonable argument to be made at dispute resolution that an arbitrator should find that term to be unconscionable and unenforceable.




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