Housing

Here are some ways to find a place to live:

• Start by calling or visiting your settlement agency:
  • For permanent residents, including refugees
  • For temporary residents, including refugee claimants, temporary foreign workers, and post-secondary international students
• Search for rental homes online, on community “Buy & Sell” websites, and in newspapers
• Look for “Vacancy” or “For Rent” signs posted near houses and apartment buildings
• Look for “For Rent” notices in your library, community centre, or place of worship (church, mosque, synagogue, etc.)
• You may qualify for subsidized housing
• Check listings for co-op housing

Here are some tips for reviewing rental ads or information:

• Be careful when looking at ads for places to rent. Some people use fake ads to trick you and take your money.
• Always sign a lease before you give money to a landlord.
• Be careful with rental ads that seem too good or too cheap. It may be a scam to steal your money.
• Always read your rental agreement details carefully and ask someone you trust to review it.

BC Housing

BC Housing is a provincial government agency. It works with partners to provide housing assistance to people in B.C.

Housing assistance

BC Housing has programs and services to help people with housing. Find out if you are eligible for available programs and services. 

Subsidized housing

The B.C. government provides subsidized housing for residents who have low-to-moderate incomes. The subsidy amount is based on the renter’s income and the number of people in the home. Learn more about subsidized housing. 

Affordable rental and market rent housing

Affordable rental and market rent housing refers to buildings where rents are the same as or lower than average rents in the private market. It is for people who have low-to-moderate incomes but may not be eligible for subsidized housing. Learn more about these options. 

Housing listings

This is a tool to help people search for buildings online. You can search by the size of housing you need, the location, and the type of housing (subsidized, affordable rental, and market housing). The Housing Listings is not a list of vacant units—it is a list of rental buildings with information on how to apply to rent a unit. Some buildings require you to apply to The Housing Registry, and some require you to contact the housing provider directly. Learn more about the tool. 

Rental assistance

Many people apply for subsidized housing. However, there is a limited number of subsidized housing units available. That means you may need to wait for a unit to become available. It is not possible to know how long you will have to wait. Many things affect who can apply for a unit when it becomes available. These include how many people have applied for that building or area, and the living situation of other applicants. People who are not in subsidized housing can apply for rental assistance (money to help pay rent) if they meet certain conditions. Learn more about available programs.

For other housing-related resources, see Housing help and support.

In Canada, it is very common for people to rent a place to live. Renting means that you pay money in return for temporarily living in a place that belongs to someone else. 

Every rental home has a person in charge. This person is the landlord, the owner, or the building manager. You need to talk to this person about paying rent, repairs (fixing things that are broken), or any problems you have with the house or apartment.

Discrimination

A landlord cannot refuse to rent a place to people because of their race, skin colour, ancestry, birthplace, religion, sex, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or lawful source of income. This is discrimination, and it is against the law. However, there are special exceptions. 

Some buildings are for people who are aged 55 or older. Some units are for people with disabilities. A landlord is allowed to make rules so people cannot have pets or smoke in the building.

The landlord may have to change the rules if a person has a disability. People with disabilities are allowed to have guide or service dogs in their rental unit. Landlords can't reject someone as a tenant because they have a disability and rely on a guide or service dog for assistance. These dogs are not considered pets. Landlords can’t require a pet damage deposit for guide or service dogs. The dog must be certified to be a guide or service animal. Learn more about getting a service dog certified. 

If you believe you are experiencing discrimination from a landlord, call the BC Human Rights Clinic or the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre.

If you want to make an official complaint about a discrimination issue, contact the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

References

References are people who can say you are a good tenant. A landlord may ask you for references before you rent a house, an apartment, or a suite. You can give your reference’s phone number or a letter they have written for you. Try to have references ready before you look for a home to rent.

Credit checks

Landlords need to know if you can pay the rent. They may ask for:

• a copy of your credit report from 1 of Canada’s 2 main credit bureaus 
• your Social Insurance Number to make sure the credit information is correct
• proof of your income (like a pay statement or pay stub)
• permission to contact your references

You are allowed to say no to these requests. But the landlord is also allowed to refuse to rent to you if you do not prove that you can pay your rent. For more information, contact The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Personal information

When landlords in B.C. want personal information from you, they must follow rules in the Personal Information Protection Act. Landlords can ask you to provide your government identification, such as a driver’s license, to check your full name and date of birth. However, they should not keep or copy your identification.

Landlords may want to check your credit history. Landlords may also ask for information about your credit card and bank account. You do not need to give this information. After you have been approved to rent the apartment, you may choose to share your bank account information so your landlord can collect your rent. Do not pay anything or provide financial information without signing a tenancy agreement first. 

Find out what personal information private sector landlords can collect in this guidance document. 

For more information, contact The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Application deposits

Deposits are when you pay part of the cost of something before you get it. The owner will keep it for you until you can pay. They will not give it to someone else. 

Some landlords ask tenants to pay a deposit when they apply to rent a place. This is against the law. Landlords cannot take your money until you have both signed a residential tenancy agreement.

Even if you pay an application deposit, the landlord might still refuse to rent to you. You may not be able to get your money back. Learn more about rental deposits and fees.

Residential tenancy agreement

If you decide you want to rent a place, you and the landlord will need to sign a residential tenancy agreement. This is also known as a lease. The tenancy agreement tells you the tenancy rules. For example, you must pay the rent on time and keep the place clean, and you must not disturb other tenants or the landlord.

Payment

Landlords will usually want to be paid by cash, cheque, bank deposit, or e-transfer. It is a good idea to bring a cheque with you when you look at places to rent.

Once you sign your tenancy agreement, you may need to pay a security deposit (sometimes called a damage deposit). The landlord uses the security deposit to pay for any damage you may cause. When you pay your security deposit, make sure you get a receipt. A receipt is a piece of paper that proves that you paid for something. You should also get a receipt for rent payments. This is very important if you pay in cash. Do not pay anything without signing a tenancy agreement first.

Lease and agreement signing

When you find a place you would like to rent, ask these questions:

• How much is the rent? When do I have to pay it?
  You usually pay rent on the first day of each month. The landlord can only increase your rent 1 time per year, and the amount must be within the yearly rent increase limit. They cannot increase rent by a large amount. The landlord must tell you they are raising the rent 3 months ahead. They must tell you in writing.
• Are utilities included in the rent, or do I have to pay for them?
  Utilities are hydro (electricity), gas or fuel oil, water, and sewer. Ask the landlord if utilities are included in the rent. If they are not included, you may have to register for utilities services before you move in and pay for them every month.
• Are parking and storage included in the rent?
  Some buildings have parking or storage space. Sometimes they are included in the rent. If they are not included in the rent, you will pay extra for them. Ask your landlord if parking and storage are included.
• How much is the security deposit?
  In B.C., you need to pay a security deposit (sometimes called a damage deposit) when you move into a rental unit. The deposit cannot be more than half of 1 month’s rent. If you have a pet, the landlord can also ask for a pet-damage deposit. The landlord keeps this deposit until you move out. If you damage the rental unit beyond normal usage (also called “wear and tear”), the landlord will use your deposit to fix it. If you do not clean the rental unit, the landlord can use the money to pay for cleaning fees. Learn more about rental deposits and fees. 

Move-in checklist

• Make sure you have a signed residential tenancy agreement.
  When you agree to rent a house or apartment, you and the landlord are making a contract. This is called a tenancy agreement. It is often called a lease. The agreement must be in writing. The tenancy agreement gives you the rules for renting the home. The law says that landlords and tenants each have certain rights and certain things they must do (responsibilities).
  A tenancy agreement must follow the law. Make sure you understand everything in the tenancy agreement before you sign it. If you are not sure, ask someone who can help you. You may need to have the agreement translated into your language. Find out more at the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) website. 
• Check for damage
  Before you move in, look at the rental unit for damage. Ask the landlord to check with you. Check all the furniture, appliances, walls, floors, cupboards, doors, and windows. Take pictures of any damage you see, like a hole or a stain. Fill out a condition inspection report form with your landlord.
  This form shows that the damage was there when you moved in. Both you and the landlord should sign the report. When you move out, you can use the form to ask for your damage deposit back. Learn more about condition inspection reports. 
• Arrange for services and utilities
  Sometimes, services (telephone and internet) and utilities (hydro, electricity, and gas) are included in your rent. Check your tenancy agreement. If they are not included, you will have to get these services yourself and pay for them separately. Contact the services or utilities company to ask for service.
• Buy tenant insurance
  Both homeowners and tenants can buy insurance. If you are a tenant, you should buy tenant (renter) insurance. This insurance pays for damage to your belongings (the things you own) in the rental unit. For example, if there is a fire, a flood, or a robbery, you would get money to buy new things to replace anything damaged or stolen.
• Telephone and internet
  There are many telephone and internet companies in B.C. Some companies offer both services. Some contracts have a very cheap starting price, but the price becomes expensive after some time. Do not sign a contract unless you understand what services you are getting, how much they cost, and how long the contract lasts. 
  You may see advertising that says you can save money or get better service if you change companies. This may be true, but you need to be careful. Some companies make you pay a fee to cancel a contract.

Garbage and recycling

In many cities and towns, trucks will come to your house and take waste away. Waste includes household garbage and organic waste (food scraps and garden waste). It also includes recyclable items, like plastic containers, paper and cardboard, glass bottles, and tin cans.

• In most cities, recyclable items such as printed paper (letters, newspapers, and magazines) and packaging (cardboard boxes, metal containers, plastic containers, and paper cartons) will be collected from your home. Glass jars and bottles may also be collected.
• Some communities also collect organic waste such as food scraps (vegetable peelings, meat trimmings, and bones) and yard trimmings (leaves, cut grass, and branches). These are collected in separate containers from garbage and recycling. It is sent to composting facilities, where it becomes soil.
• Some small communities do not collect waste from homes. You may need to take your waste and recycling to a transfer station or landfill.
• Other recyclable items such as batteries, light bulbs, electronics, appliances, and car tires need to be dropped off at recycling centres or stores that offer recycling. Recycle BC can help you find places to leave these items. Find out what and where to recycle through Recycle BC. 

There may be rules about how much garbage, organic waste, and recycling you can put outside for collection. There may also be rules about when you put out waste and the kind of container you can use. In many places, you will get carts, bins, bags, or boxes for garbage, organic waste, and recycling. If the city gives you waste containers, you must use them. Check your town or district website for the waste collection schedule and for guidelines on what items belong in garbage, recycling, and organic waste bins.

When you buy beverages (bottled water, fruit juice, milk, soda, beer, or wine), you pay a recycling deposit (a small extra fee). You can return empty beverage containers to a recycling depot, grocery store, or liquor store. They will refund the deposit money (give it back). Learn about the return and refund process. 

British Columbians try to reduce waste. Contact the Recycling Council of British Columbia (RCBC) to learn how to reduce waste and recycle different materials in your area.

Repairs

Sometimes, the house or apartment you rent may have problems. For example, the roof leaks, the toilet does not work, or there is no hot water. The landlord is responsible for repairs (fixing broken things). If your rental unit needs repairs, talk to your landlord as soon as possible. The law says that the landlord must make these repairs quickly. If it is an emergency, the landlord must give you the name and phone number of someone who can come quickly. If the landlord does not fix the problem quickly, you can call the repair company yourself.

If you or your guests damage your rental unit, you must pay for the repairs. Sometimes, the landlord does not allow you to paint the walls or drill holes to hang pictures. If you do these things, the landlord may ask you to pay for damage and repairs. Before you make any changes to the unit, ask your landlord for permission. Get the permission in writing.

If your rental unit has problems that your landlord won’t fix, contact the Residential Tenancy Branch.

Access to personal space

A landlord may want to enter your rental unit, but they must ask you first. You can say no. However, you must let the landlord enter the rental unit if they give you a written note. It must include the date, time, and reason for coming in. You must get this note at least 24 hours before the visit.

Emergencies are different. If there is an emergency, such as a fire or a broken water pipe, the landlord can come in without your permission.

Disagreements

If you and your landlord disagree about an issue, contact the Residential Tenancy Branch. They can give you information about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. They can also help solve disagreements.

You can ask the Residential Tenancy Branch to solve your disagreement. The Branch may handle your request in 2 ways:

• Facilitation: a person helps you and the landlord to discuss the problem together. Facilitation allows the landlord and tenant to solve their dispute quickly and have some control over the final agreement. A case facilitator will work with both the landlord and the tenant. The facilitator may turn the agreement into a court order that both sides must follow.
• Participatory hearing: you and the landlord attend a formal meeting with an arbitrator (decision maker). If a tenant and a landlord cannot solve their problem through discussion, they can apply for a participatory hearing. An arbitrator will listen to both sides of the disagreement. Then they will make a final and binding (permanent) decision. The arbitrator’s decision cannot be changed. The participatory hearing is usually held by phone. 

During the hearing, you need to give your testimony (explanation of what happened) and give evidence (proof). It is important to be prepared. The Residential Tenancy Branch website has information about how to prepare for the dispute resolution process.

Find out more about solving disagreements on the Residential Tenancy Branch.

End of tenancy notice

When you plan to move out of a rented house or apartment, you must tell your landlord in writing. This is called giving notice. If you are renting month-to- month, you must give written notice to the landlord 1 full month before you move out. For example, if you plan to move out on December 31, you must give notice before November 30. December 1 is too late. After giving your notice, you must move out of your rental unit before 1 pm on the day your tenancy ends.

Move-out checklist

• Give notice to your landlord in writing
• Clean
  You must clean your rental unit before you move out. You should clean the rooms and floors. You should also clean the appliances (stove, refrigerator, bathrooms, and light fixtures). If you have carpets or drapes (curtains), you may also have to clean these. Check your tenancy agreement to make sure you are following the rules.
• Cancel telephone and utilities
  If you have a land line, call the telephone company and tell them you are moving. They can cancel your phone service. They can also transfer (move) the service to your new address. If you do not do this, you may have to pay more phone bills after you move out. If you pay for the internet, cable, electricity, gas, or oil, you should also cancel these. Phone the companies about 1 week before you move and ask them to disconnect your service on the day you move out.
• Change your address
  You will need to change your mailing address so letters and parcels with your old address are delivered to your new home. There is a fee for this service. You can do this on the Canada Post website. 
• Give your new address out
  Give your new address to your bank, employer, school, medical plan, driver licensing office, credit card companies, the Canada Revenue Agency, cable TV company, and other contacts. Visit their websites. You may be able to change your address online.
• Hire a moving company or rent a truck
  You can pay a moving company to send a truck and workers to move your things. You can also rent a truck or van and move things yourself.

Eviction

In certain cases, a landlord can tell a tenant to move out. This is called an eviction.

The landlord must tell you that you are being evicted in writing. They must give good reasons for eviction. This is called giving notice.

There are different rules for when a landlord must provide you notice. The rules depend on the reason you are being evicted. Learn about eviction laws on the Residential Tenancy Branch website. 

If your landlord evicts you and you do not agree with the reason, you can ask for help. Call the Residential Tenancy Branch or the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre.

Being part of a housing co-operative (co- op) is different from renting. In a rented unit, someone else owns the unit, and you pay them money to live in it. A co-op is a group of residents who share ownership of a property. They all help get money to pay for building costs. The co-op is managed by a board of directors. Co-op members choose the people in the board of directors. All members pay monthly housing fees. 

The co-op has group rules, but no landlord. Members can stay in the co-op as long as they follow the rules. Living in a co-op can be more secure than renting. A co-op cannot evict residents to renovate (fix) or sell the building.

The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC has a video explaining co-op housing. 

Some housing co-ops offer special units with lower rent for low-to-moderate-income people. This is called rent-geared-to-income (RGI). Higher-income people pay the full cost of housing, and lower-income people pay reduced housing fees. You need to apply for RGI co-op units. There may be a waiting list, and you may have to wait for a long time. Find a co-op near you. 

Joining a co-op

You must apply to join a housing co-op. Visit the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC website and check “Find a Co-op” to see a list of all co-ops. Every co-op has its own application process. You must contact the co-op directly to apply. You can find their contact information on the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC website.

You can also do special searches for co-ops that meet your needs. You can search for co-ops that are accepting applications right now, co-ops for people 55 years old and older, or co-ops that allow pets.

Most Canadians use a real estate company for help when they are searching for a home to buy. A real estate agent can help you search for houses and condos. They can help you bargain for a better price and explain the legal papers. A lawyer can also help you with the legal papers. Search online for houses for sale and how much they cost. 

Most people borrow money to buy a house. This is called a mortgage. You can apply for a mortgage from a bank, credit union, or trust company. You will pay fees (interest) on the money you owe. Lenders may have different interest rates. Compare the rates at different banks and companies to find the best rate. 

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website has information about buying a home and getting a mortgage. 

If you own your own home, you should buy insurance for it. You can also insure your belongings (the things you own). If your home or belongings are damaged or lost (for example, in a fire, flood, earthquake, or robbery), the insurance company will pay for most of the cost.

You will also have to pay for all home services. These include water, electricity, telephone, internet, heat, sewer (toilet), and waste pickup. Water and sewer services are provided by the local government. Other services are provided by private companies. You will need to contact them yourself to buy services and pay bills.

Find out more about buying a home on the B.C. government’s website.