Legal Resources

Landlords are required to prepare a written agreement for every tenancy. Even if a landlord doesn’t prepare one, the standard terms of a tenancy agreement still apply. Read more about what should be included and download forms (right-hand column).

Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant or landlord when starting a tenancy. There are rules about screening tenants, security deposits, move-in inspections, tenancy agreements, and changing locks and keys.

Strata owners can use this resource to learn more about their legal roles and responsibilities.

Dispute resolution is the formal process to resolve conflicts between landlords and tenants. It should be the last step in dealing with a tenancy conflict if you're unable to work out a tenancy issue. This page provides information about the dispute resolution process and includes a link to the online application.

Provides links to essential tenancy forms grouped by topic: starting a tenancy, rent increases, dispute resolution, dispute resolution decisions and orders, ending a tenancy, and condition inspection. Forms listed alphabetically and by number are also available.

Information for landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities during a tenancy. Covers topics such as rent increases, repairs, landlord’s access to rental properties, possession of the rental unit, quiet enjoyment, changes to the tenancy agreement, serving notices, etc. Includes forms.

Find out if the RTB has already heard and made a decision on a similar issue by searching past decisions online. Reviewing past decisions will give you insight into what’s likely to happen if you submit an application for dispute resolution.

This resource explains that landlords and tenants must end tenancies lawfully. Learn about landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities when ending a tenancy. Other topics include options for tenants to end a tenancy, evictions, mutual agreement to end a tenancy, special circumstances to end a tenancy, breaking a lease, and more.

This page explains the law around rent increases. Topics covered include when rent can be increased, the current annual increase percentage, and how to dispute unlawful rent increases.

This information sheet provides an overview of information about rent, such as amount of rent, paying rent, forms of payment, unpaid rent or utilities, co-tenants, withholding rents, and rent increases. Includes references to information and forms available on BC Residential Tenancy Branch website.