RTB & Beyond: BC Tenancy Law Insights

Buying a foreclosed property with tenants in place raises questions that do not arise in an ordinary purchase. This article explains what may happen to an existing tenancy, possession and the rights of both buyers and tenants.

Renting out your BC home while spending several months away can create a residential tenancy even when everyone expects the arrangement to be temporary. This article explains the risk and how the tenancy should be structured.

Not every mark, stain or worn surface is tenant damage. This article explains how reasonable wear and tear differs from compensable damage and why the age and condition of an item matter.

A landlord selling a rental property does not automatically end the tenancy. This article explains what happens when a tenanted property is sold and when a purchaser may eventually require possession.

BC's security-deposit rules contain an important 15-day deadline, but the clock does not simply start when a tenant moves out. This article explains when the deadline begins and what both sides must do.

Moving out of a rental in BC does not mean leaving it spotless. This guide explains the required cleaning standard, reasonable wear and tear, and when cleaning costs can be claimed.

An RTB facilitated settlement conference can resolve a dispute before a hearing, but settlement itself is voluntary. Here is what landlords and tenants should expect.

Service rules can decide a tenancy dispute before the merits are ever reached. This article explains addresses for service, email, deemed receipt and common deadline traps.

Being treated unfairly does not automatically create a monetary award. This article explains what the RTB requires to prove compensation, including loss, causation and mitigation.

Judicial review is not a second RTB hearing. This article explains the filing deadline, reviewable errors, the importance of the hearing record and when a challenge may be realistic.

Most BC tenancy disputes belong at the RTB, but some monetary claims reach the BC Supreme Court. This article looks at jurisdiction, claim limits and the strategic choice of forum.

AI can make a tenancy argument sound polished without making it legally sound. This article explains where AI can help, where it can mislead and why human judgment still matters.

The RTB-33 One Month Notice to End Tenancy for Cause has been updated. This article reviews the changes and what the revised language may mean in practice.

BC's RTB updated Policy Guideline 16 in 2026. The compensation test remains familiar, but new court references clarify how damages and supporting evidence may be assessed.

Winning a judicial review does not necessarily mean winning the underlying tenancy dispute. This guide explains what judicial review can accomplish and when the cost may be justified.

A landlord-use notice can create major consequences if the legal requirements are not followed. Here are five mistakes landlords should avoid before serving the notice.

Not every housing dispute belongs at the Residential Tenancy Branch. This article explains when the RTB applies, when the CRT may have jurisdiction and why roommate arrangements are different.

Most residential tenancy disputes must be decided by the RTB, but monetary limits can make the BC Supreme Court relevant. This guide explains the jurisdictional line.

You can represent yourself at an RTB hearing, but the record is built long before the hearing begins. This article explains why timing, evidence and early legal advice can matter.

BC's maximum allowable rent increase for 2026 is 2.3%. This article explains the annual limit, notice requirements and what landlords and tenants should check before an increase takes effect.