Legal Resources

Learn about your roles and responsibilities, sections and types of strata corporations, information and record keeping, meetings and voting, bylaws and rules (including how to enforce them), strata finances and insurance, and repair and maintenance.

Practical, step-by-step information for dealing with problems involving neighbours. Topics include problems involving fences, trees, odours, noise, untidy premises, and parking. Also: tips for talking with your neighbour and options for dealing with neighbour issues.

Explains your legal rights and options if you have a problem with a neighbour. Topics include how to work out problems involving noise, untidiness, dogs, fences, trees, second-hand smoke, water damage, and trespassing.

Explains that tenants must pay their rent while evacuated during a natural disaster like wildfires or floods, and landlords must ensure the rental unit is safe and livable before tenants can move back. It includes what to do during and after an evacuation, and the responsibilities of the tenant and landlord.

Information about co-op housing in BC, including where to apply and which co-ops are accepting applications.

Explains foreclosure, the legal process the lender can take if you default on your mortgage. Find out your rights and options if you’re facing foreclosure — you don’t automatically lose your home if you default on your mortgage. It gives you steps to take to work out the problem.

Information for newcomers on renting an apartment, buying a home, and planning and managing a mortgage. This resource is in different languages.

Explains your legal rights if you want to hire someone to do repairs or renovations on your home. It covers what you should know, like holding back 10% of the contract price for a period of time. It also explains how to prevent problems, like checking about permits and getting written estimates and a contract.

Understand your rights and obligations around home inspections through Consumer Protection BC, the regulator for the home inspections in BC. This resource also includes what should be included in a home inspection contract, and you can do if you have a problem or complaint about a home inspector or inspection.

Explains what’s involved in getting a mortgage, and key things to watch for. These include signing the mortgage contract, deciding on the mortgage term, and negotiating the right to prepay. It explains why you might want an assumable mortgage, and describes mortgage loan insurance.