• HOME
  • ABOUT
    • WHAT WE DO
    • VOLUNTEER / JOB OPPORTUNITIES
    • MEMBERSHIP
    • TRAC FEEDBACK
    • FUNDERS
    • CONTACT
  • RESOURCES
    • TRAC RESOURCES
      • RENTING IT RIGHT
      • TEMPLATE LETTERS
      • TENANT SURVIVAL GUIDE
    • OTHER RESOURCES
      • OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
      • OTHER PUBLICATIONS
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • FACEBOOK
  • TWITTER
  • TRAC FEEDBACK

FEES

fees during tenancy

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Open AllClose All

LEGAL FEES

Sections 6 and 7 of the Residential Tenancy Regulation list the refundable and non-refundable fees that a landlord can legally charge a tenant.

Late payment of rent: Your landlord can charge a non-refundable fee of up to $25 for late payment of rent, but only if this term has been written into your tenancy agreement.

New, replacement, and additional keys: Your landlord can charge a non-refundable fee for replacing a key that you lost, or for providing an additional key at your request. This fee cannot be more than the direct cost of the key. Your landlord can also charge you a refundable fee if they provide you with any keys in addition to the key that provides your sole means of access to the residential property. Again, this fee cannot be more than the direct cost of the key. At the start of your tenancy, your landlord cannot charge you a fee for rekeying the locks.

Returned cheque: If you do not have enough money in your bank account when your landlord tries to deposit your rent cheque, your bank may charge your landlord a service fee. If this happens, your landlord can require that you pay them back for the cost of the fee. In addition, your landlord can charge you a non-refundable fee of up to $25 for the return of your cheque by a financial institution, but only if this term has been written into your tenancy agreement.

Moving fees: If you request to move to a new rental unit within the same property, your landlord can charge you a non-refundable fee that does not exceed the greater of $15 or 3% of your rent. Also, if you live in a building or complex managed by a strata corporation, you may be required to pay non-refundable move-in and move-out fees.

ILLEGAL FEES

Application fees: In BC’s competitive rental housing market, some landlords try asking for illegal application fees. According to section 15 of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), landlords cannot charge a fee for:

  • accepting an application;
  • processing an application;
  • investigating an applicant’s suitability as a tenant; or
  • accepting a person as a tenant.

This practice is illegal even if a landlord ends up returning the fee to rejected applicants, or applying the fee to the security deposit of successful applicants.

Guest fees: According to section 9 of the Schedule in the Residential Tenancy Regulation, your landlord cannot unreasonably restrict guests from entering your rental property or charge you a fee for having guests visit – even if they stay overnight. See TRAC’s webpage, Guests, for more information.

Locks: At the start of your tenancy, your landlord cannot charge you a fee for rekeying the locks.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

  • RTA Section 15 – Application and processing fees prohibited
  • RTR Section 5 – Prohibited Fees
  • RTR Sections 6-7 – Refundable and non-refundable fees
  • RTR Schedule – Section 9 – occupants and guests

PREVIOUS LEGAL DECISIONS

  • RTB Decision – Fee for Late Rent Allowed if Term of Tenancy Agreement

USEFUL LINKS / OTHER RESOURCES

STARTING A TENANCY
Am I Covered By the Law?
Condition Inspection Reports
Fees
Finding Out Who My Landlord Is
Finding Rental Housing
Human Rights
Locks and Keys
Personal Information
Pets
Residential Tenancy Branch
Roommates
Security / Pet Damage Deposits
Tenancy Agreements
Tenant Insurance
Utilities
DURING A TENANCY
Bed Bugs / Other Infestations
Fees
Finding Out Who My Landlord Is
Guests
Locks and Keys
Paying Rent
Pets
Quiet Enjoyment
Rent Increases
Repairs and Maintenance
Residential Tenancy Branch
Roommates
Selling a Rental Unit
Services and Facilities
Serving Documents
Sublet and Assignment
Utilities
ENDING A TENANCY
Abandonment of Property
Breaching Important Terms
Breaking a Lease
Death of a Tenant
Enforcing an Eviction
Evictions
Fires and Other Disasters
Foreclosure
Locks and Keys
Moving Out
Residential Tenancy Branch
Security / Pet Damage Deposits
Selling a Rental Unit
Sublet and Assignment
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Applying for Dispute Resolution
Enforcing a Monetary Order
Enforcing an Eviction
Finding Out Who My Landlord Is
I Disagree with my Decision
Important Deadlines
Participating in a Hearing
Preparing for a Hearing
Residential Tenancy Branch
Resolving Without a Hearing
Serving Documents
The Decision and Order
TYPE OF TENANT
Disability
Families
Low-Income
New Immigrants
Seniors
Students and Youth
TYPE OF HOUSING
Apartments
Condos and Townhomes
Co-operative Housing
Hotels
Indian Lands
Living with the Owner
Manufactured Home Parks
Rented Houses
Secondary Suites
Subsidized Housing

We would like to thank our funders for their generous support!


  • HOME
  • MEDIA
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLAIMER
  • MEMBERSHIP
  • VOLUNTEER / JOB OPPORTUNITIES
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright 2016 © TENANT RESOURCE & ADVISORY CENTRE · WEBSITE DESIGNED BY VCN WEB|TEAM