A B.C. renter says she was forced to move out immediately after giving notice in response to her landlord proposing a 30 per cent rent increase.
She took her situation to the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal for damages, including unused rent and lost wages.
In the dispute decision, the renter says she gave one month’s notice after she received the proposed rent increase, and the landlord told her the next day that she had to leave.
In defence, the B.C. landlord claimed that the going rate in the area was higher than what her renter was paying, so she “reasonably asked” the renter to pay more.
She admitted that she asked the renter to leave early “and did not want herself and her children to witness conflict,” according to the tribunal decision.
The landlord also admitted she withheld $600 to replace two rugs she claimed were damaged.
According to facts pulled from the decision, the applicant in the tribunal case moved into the home in May 2024, agreeing to pay $1,000 per month. The rental was a private bedroom with an attached bathroom.
The B.C. renter also had access to the kitchen, living room, and storage garage.
Less than a year later, on Feb. 1, 2025, the landlord asked the renter about paying more rent. The landlord suggested a rate of $1,300 per month. Unsurprisingly, the renter said they did not want to pay the increased amount, adding that she would move out on March 1.
On Feb. 2, the landlord messaged the renter about locking her bedroom door. The landlord said it appeared that the renter didn’t trust her, and asked her to pack her things and move out. The renter agreed, moving out over the next two days.
Despite there having been no written contract in this rental, what the landlord attempted to do in this case was entirely unlawful. If the renter had a better understanding of their rights, they could’ve easily fought the unlawful rent increase. It also could’ve been the case that she didn’t want to live in this rental anymore.
In B.C., a landlord must give at least three months’ notice in writing for a rent increase. Additionally, you can’t apply a rent increase until 12 months into the rental.
As the tribunal points out, a contract “does not need to be written to be enforceable” and that there are still implied terms that both parties are bound by.
Interestingly, the tribunal never mentioned the rules around rent increases, but it did mention specific rules about notice for moving out, adding that the renter did provide one month’s notice after the proposed rent increase.
It also added that when the renter provided notice to move out, the landlord did not initially object to it. However, the fact that the very next day she asked the renter to move out immediately breached the terms of the agreement.
While the tribunal dismissed the renter’s claim for lost wages, it did order the landlord to pay a pro-rated reimbursement for unused rent, for a total of $564.29. It dismissed the landlord’s claim that dog urine damaged two carpets.
In total, the landlord was ordered to pay $716.50, which included tribunal fees.
If you’re a renter in a complicated rental situation, you can check the B.C. Government rental dashboard to explore what your rights are.
- You might also like:
- Landlord accuses B.C. renter of 'smear campaign' in rental dispute involving drugs
- Landlord who deducted fees from deposits ordered to partially pay back B.C. renters
- OneCity proposes redeveloping Vancouver's Kingsgate Mall with a school, rental housing, community centre, pool, and childcare