Other Tenant Organizations
Community Legal Assistance Society
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC
Together Against Poverty Society
Access Pro Bono
Access Pro Bono promotes access to justice in BC by providing and fostering quality pro bono legal services for people and non-profit organizations of limited means.
BC Housing
BC Housing develops, manages, and administers a wide range of subsidized housing and rental assistance options across BC. See their website for information on various housing options and how to apply.
BC Human Rights Clinic
The BC Human Rights Clinic provides assistance and representation to people dealing with a provincial human rights complaint.
BC Human Rights Tribunal
The BC Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body created by the B.C. Human Rights Code. The Tribunal is responsible for accepting, screening, mediating, and adjudicating human rights complaints. The Tribunal offers the parties to a complaint the opportunity to try to resolve the complaint through mediation. Respondents have an opportunity to respond to a complaint and to apply to dismiss a complaint without a hearing. If the parties do not resolve a complaint and the complaint is not dismissed, the Tribunal holds a hearing.
Community Legal Assistance Society
If you have lost your dispute resolution hearing and your housing is in danger, CLAS may be able to assist you with a Judicial Review.
Justice Education Society
The Justice Education Society helps improve access to BC’s justice system through legal education and information. Their website has many helpful resources, including information on Small Claims court.
Lawyer Referral Service
APB’s Lawyer Referral Service helps British Columbians of any income to find a suitable lawyer to serve their legal needs. Any member of the public may call the Lawyer Referral Service to obtain the contact information of a lawyer who will meet for a free half-hour legal consultation.
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) provides independent oversight and enforcement of B.C.’s access and privacy laws, including The Personal Information Protection Act (“PIPA”), which applies to over 300,000 private sector “organizations” including businesses, charities, associations, trade unions and trusts.
The OIPC has produced the popular guidance document “Privacy guidelines for landlords and tenants: Frequently asked questions”
PovNet
PovNet provides online tools that facilitate communication, community and access to information around poverty-related issues in British Columbia and Canada. PovNet works to collect relevant news and resources of use to advocates, community workers, marginalized communities and the general public. Their site also features a very useful “Find an Advocate” map.
Ready to Rent
Ready to Rent offers educational courses for tenants in Victoria and the Lower Mainland.
Residential Tenancy Branch
The Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) is the government department that deals with tenancy law in BC.
Service BC
If there is no Residential Tenancy Branch office where you live, you can contact Service BC.
The People’s Law School
This information from People’s Law School explains in a general way the law that applies in British Columbia.
Together Against Poverty Society
TAPS is one of the largest providers of free, face-to-face legal advocacy for people with income assistance, disability benefits, employment standards, and tenancy issues. They help over 7,000 people in Victoria each year.
Vancouver Tenants Union
The Vancouver Tenants Union seeks to build a base of tenants throughout the city to establish political power to create change.
Victoria Tenant Action Group
Victoria Tenant Action Group is a membership-based organization committed to transforming the housing system and ensuring access to housing for all.