Paying Rent
Paying Rent
When you rent a house or apartment, you usually pay rent to the landlord once a month. Make sure that you have proof that you paid the rent, such as a receipt from the landlord or a cancelled cheque from your bank or credit union. Keep this proof in case there is a dispute about it later. If your landlord wants to increase your rent, he or she must follow the rules. For example, the landlord cannot increase the rent if you have not been in the place for at least 12 months.
Landlords must give tenants three months’ notice if they increase the rent. This means the landlord must tell you in writing three months before you start to pay the higher rent. The month you receive the notice doesn’t count, even if you receive notice on the first of the month. The landlord must use a special form called Notice of Rent Increase.
The landlord can only increase the rent once a year. In most cases, the landlord can only increase the rent according to a percentage set by the government. This percentage may change from year to year. In 2008, this percentage was 3.7% for apartments. Check with the Residential Tenancy Branch or the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre to see if this percentage has changed.
Letting in the Landlord
Landlords can ask to see the rented house or apartment. They may want to come once a month. Landlords must give a letter to the tenant 24 hours before they come. The letter must say what time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. the landlord will come and why he or she is coming. Sometimes there is an emergency — for example, a fire or a broken water pipe. Then the landlord can come in without permission.