BC renters forced to pay landlord over $1K in accessible parking fines
Two BC renters were on the receiving end of legal action courtesy of their former landlord due to fines he incurred due to the renters parking in an accessible zone.
According to the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal dispute, the landlord had to pay fines of $1,200 related to several parking bylaw offences.
The renters denied liability and agreed to pay some of the fines in instalments. They also alleged that the landlord breached that agreement, with another allegation that the landlord breached the tenancy agreement and the Residential Tenancy Act.
In this case, the landlord owns a strata unit, which he uses as a rental property. The rental is managed by a realtor, whom the tribunal calls AD.
The renters’ tenancy began on October 1, 2020, and ended on September 30, 2023, after a Residential Tenancy Branch order due to unpaid rent and utilities.
While the renters lived in the unit, they were fined five times for breaching parking bylaws. Each fine was for $200. Four of the fines were for parking in an accessible stall on six occasions. One of the fines was charging a vehicle in the visitor parking area.
One additional fine was levied against the renters for using abusive language on two occasions.
According to the renters, the landlord breached an agreement to accept instalment reimbursement. The tribunal said this claim was unproven. The renters made another claim that the landlord illegally raised their rent and failed to give proper notice before ending the tenancy.
“I find these issues are under the RTA and within the exclusive jurisdiction of the RTB,” the tribunal said.
After sorting through the evidence, the tribunal agreed that the renters needed to reimburse the landlord for his payments to cover the renters’ fines.
The renters were ordered to pay the landlord $1,445.50, which included $1,200 in reimbursement and the rest in tribunal fees, within 30 days of the BC tribunal’s decision.