The BC Residential Tenancy Act

British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Act (the Act) and Regulation apply to:

Tenancy agreements
Rental units
Residential properties

The landlord’s responsibilities

A landlord is someone who, in exchange for rent, gives another person (the tenant) the right to use the residential property. A landlord can be:

The owner of the buildingThe owner’s agent
The owner’s successors

The landlord must:

Comply with British Columbia’s rental laws
Make sure the rental unit and building are maintained according to
the health, safety and housing standards established by law
Make repairs and keep the unit and building in good condition
Pay the utility bills if utilities are included in the rent
Investigate any complaints about disturbances
Ensure that the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and peaceful
occupation of the premises is respected

The landlord must not:

Charge for accepting or processing a tenancy applicationCharge for reviewing or accepting an application
Enter the unit without permission, except in an emergency

The tenant’s responsiblities

The tenant is someone who pays rent in exchange for the right to use the residential property .

A tenant must:

Pay rent and other fees on time
Maintain reasonable health, cleanliness and sanitary standards throughout the rental unit and residential property
Ensure their guests and pets do not damage the property, but if there are damages, repair them as soon as possible
Do not disturb other people in the building or neighbouring property
Do not endanger the safety of others on the property

A Co-tenant’s responsibilities

Co-tenants are two or more tenants who rent the same property and have signed the same tenancy agreement. Co-tenants have equal rights, are jointly responsible for meeting the terms of the agreement, and are liable for any debts or damages relating to the tenancy . This means the landlord can recover the full amount of rent, utilities or any repair cost for damages from all or any one of the co-tenants.