Roommate has locks changed on her in testy B.C. rental dispute

A testy rental dispute was settled at the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal in what the tribunal calls a failed roommate agreement between two tenants.

AS rented a room from AH but claimed that AH changed the locks at some point, making her homeless. AS claimed a $700 rent refund.

In defence, AH said that AS was smoking inside the house, stealing from other tenants, and damaging items.

AS lived in AH’s spare room for about three months.

Both parties agree that AH changed at least one lock in the home at some point, and that the changed locks prevented AS from entering her bedroom.

AH told the tribunal that AS’ behaviour made other occupants of the home feel uncomfortable, “which included putting a padlock on her bedroom door and stealing knives from the kitchen. As noted above, he also says she was smoking inside,” the decision stated.

At some point, while the roommates still lived together, AH called the police for advice. He said that police told him that he shouldn’t attempt to physically remove AS from the home. The tribunal inferred that this is why AH decided to change the locks instead.

AH said he had asked AS to leave several times in the three months she lived in the home. AS didn’t dispute the difficulties in the living arrangement.

“I find the relationship between the parties likely deteriorated quickly,” the tribunal said.

The tribunal said that AS did “not provide any details about what the parties’ agreement was. She does not say when she paid the $700 in rent, how long the $700 was to cover, or how far through the month or term she was forced to move out. So, I find her claim unproven on that basis as well.”

AS couldn’t prove that she was entitled to $700 in damages, and the tribunal dismissed her claim.