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Common Questions

I’m considering renting out my property

Last reviewed in March 2023 by the Clicklaw Editors

Being a landlord is a very serious commitment. Whether you rent out many suites in an apartment building or one suite in your basement, you must follow provincial and regional laws and regulations. The Residential Tenancy Act and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act describe the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords in BC.

Good starting points include:

  • Renting in British Columbia, from People’s Law School, is a webinar on common questions about renting in BC. It covers a variety of topics, from the kinds of questions that landlords can ask their prospective tenants to what will happen at a Residential Tenancy Branch hearing.
  • Residential Tenancy, from People's Law School, provides an overview of landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities.
  • LSLAP Manual: Landlord and Tenant Law, from the UBC Law Students Legal Advice Program, has information about a landlord’s legal obligations in many sections of the chapter.
  • Starting a Tenancy, from the provincial government, explains the rights and responsibilities of landlords according to the laws. During a Tenancy and Ending a Tenancy explain these rights and responsibilities at later stages of tenancy.
  • Tenancy Agreements, from the provincial government, provides the standard residential tenancy agreement, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant. It also has the manufactured home site tenancy agreement for when the tenants own their manufactured home and only rent the site that it sits on.

Need more help?

  • The Residential Tenancy Branch, from the Government of BC, provides information, education, and dispute resolution services for landlords and tenants. They also have offices in Burnaby and Vancouver.
  • Landlord Registry™, from LandlordBC, is a program for landlords & building/property managers in BC. For a fee, it provides members with fundamental education and best practises in regard to the Residential Tenancy Act.

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landlords' responsibilities, renting out your property, becoming a landlord, tenancy agreement, rental agreement