Renter beware: Reasons you could face eviction in Vancouver | Daily Hive

A no vacancy sign in Vancouver. (Margarita Young/Shutterstock)

Aside from an unfair rent increase, facing an eviction could be a renter’s worst nightmare, and there are many reasons why you could be on the receiving end of an eviction notice in Vancouver.

The B.C. government offers several resources for education on eviction notices and what a landlord is and isn’t allowed to do when it comes to evicting you from a rental unit.

Some obvious reasons require no explanation, such as failing to pay rent or damaging property. However, there are some reasons you could face eviction in Vancouver that aren’t as obvious.

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The threat of eviction is commonly discussed on social media, revealing some lapses in understanding the unfortunate reality, which is one of the things that inspired this publication.

Missed or late payments

In a recent Reddit thread, a local resident was asking for advice after receiving one month’s notice. The renter stated that they had lived in the unit for over three years, adding that they’re now renting on a month-to-month basis.

“I have never been more than a few days late paying my rent,” the resident shared.

As some commenters have pointed out, even a single late payment can be a sufficient reason for lawful eviction. The landlord doesn’t even have to give you a one-month notice. The province confirms this information.

“If your tenant is late paying by even one day, or the rent is short by any amount of money, the landlord has the right to serve them with a 10-day eviction notice for non-payment of rent,” the B.C. housing and tenancy website states.

It’s not just missing rent payments that can affect your housing. If you withhold a payment for utilities, the landlord is allowed to serve you with a 30-day written demand to pay for them. If that payment isn’t received within 30 days, you could be served with a 10-day eviction notice.

If you receive a 10-day notice, you have five days to dispute it.

Non-compliance with the tenancy agreement or the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA)

If you fail to comply with the RTA, a landlord is legally allowed to end your tenancy.

Non-compliance with the RTA can take many forms, including disturbances and safety concerns, failure to repair damage, non-compliance with government orders, illegal activities, and other violations.

If you or someone you’ve allowed in your unit interferes with or disturbs other occupants, including the landlord, that’s grounds for eviction.

If you’re asked to pay a deposit and fail to do so within 30 days of the due date, it may also result in an eviction notice being issued.

Sometimes, third-party information can lead to eviction.

“Landlords may decide to evict a tenant based on information from a third party. This process usually involves the landlord gathering evidence and assessing its credibility.”

Your options in that situation include speaking directly with the landlord, discussing any available recourse or other options, and also requesting details about the specific concerns shared by the third party.

Other reasons you could face eviction in Vancouver/B.C.

If you’re living in a subsidized rental unit in B.C., related to income, number of occupants, health, or other criteria, you could be served a two-month notice if you no longer qualify.

You have 15 days to dispute it after receiving the two-month notice.

Another reality many B.C. renters face is a three-month notice for purchaser occupancy of the rental unit. This notice is for someone who has purchased your rental property and requests that you end your tenancy on or after July 18, 2024, and the buyer wishes to have a close family member reside in the unit.

“The Residential Tenancy Act defines a ‘close family member’ as the purchaser’s spouse, or the parents or children of the purchaser or the purchaser’s spouse,” the B.C. housing website adds.

Beginning on Aug. 21, 2024, new requirements were implemented that require landlords to provide four months’ notice, with the tenant having 30 days to dispute it.

Another common type of eviction is a three-month notice for a landlord to occupy the rental unit. It’s similar to the eviction notice for purchaser occupancy. A landlord can end the tenancy if they or a close family member wants to occupy the unit.

If your building is being demolished or a rental unit is being converted, a landlord can serve you with a four-month eviction notice.

“When a landlord ends a tenancy for demolition or conversion, the tenant should receive an amount that is equal to one month’s rent compensation payable under the tenancy agreement.”

The province also recommends getting receipts if you’re paying rent in cash.

These are just some of the most common reasons you could be served an eviction notice. The B.C. housing and tenancy website offers more information and resources that could help you if you’re facing the risk of an eviction in Vancouver or anywhere else in the province.