The End of the Renting Road
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by
PHS
Like the place you’re renting or are you looking for a change? Maybe, you need to relocate for work, or find a more suitable place for an expanding family. You may choose to end renting for a number of reasons. When a tenancy agreement is almost expired, or life hits in an unexpected way, people tend to start thinking about their living situation.
Some choose to renew their tenancy agreements, while others begin searching for a new place. The end of a tenancy agreement may be a bittersweet and difficult process. But fear not, we are here to help you.
End of Your Renting Agreement
Tenancies can end in surprising and unsurprising ways. If you were part of a fixed term tenancy, there is no uncertainty when it would end due to the end date agreed upon when entering an agreement. Fixed term tenancies can allow more room for planning if you should renew your tenancy or move to a new place after it ends.
Periodic tenancies differ from fixed term tenancies and leaves room for more uncertainty. Perfect for those looking for a short commitment, it is largely dependent on you, the tenant, on when you want to end it and move on. As long as you provide your landlord with at least a month’s notice, there shouldn’t be much trouble ending the tenancy.
There are circumstances when the tenancy for periodic and fixed terms can be broken midway through an agreement. If the tenant is experiencing family violence or has been accepted into a long-term care facility, the tenancy agreement can be broken. Evictions are another way tenancies can be ended. This happens when the landlord forces a tenant to vacate their property. There may be many reasons why, such as non-payment of rent, and many types of eviction notices.
Moving Out of the Unit
It is required that the tenant move out by 1p.m. on the last day of the tenancy. This can be changed if the landlord and tenant agree in writing on another time and date. You must also make sure that you follow the tenancy agreement’s cleaning conditions.
It is expected that you clean the inside of their rental unit when moving out. Once the tenant has emptied out the rental unit, a move-out inspection will be conducted by the landlord. This is to identify any damage and who is responsible for repairing them. If damage is found to be caused by the tenant, the landlord may ask to keep the deposit to cover the cost of cleaning and repairs. Remember, normal wear and tear of the apartment is not the tenant’s responsibility.
How to Get Your Deposit Back
At the end of your tenancy, given that you or your pet didn’t cause any damages, your landlord should return your deposits.
- The first step in regaining your deposit is to provide your landlord with a forwarding address. This must be done in writing to indicate where your deposit can be sent. There should also be an option to list your forwarding address on the move-out condition inspection report.
- After providing your forwarding address and the tenancy has ended, your landlord has 15 days to do one of the following: return your deposit, get your written permission to keep some or all of the deposit, or apply for a dispute resolution to keep some or all of the deposit
It is up to the landlord and you to determine how to deliver your deposit. If your deposit is returned electronically, the landlord is not allowed to charge a delivery fee.
What if you don’t receive your deposit, written permission, or disputes? You gain the right to go after your landlord. Through dispute resolution, you may be able to argue for double the amount of your deposit.
Condition inspection reports must happen at the end of every tenancy. This is a chance for your landlord to assess their property and determine if they should return your deposits or not. If your landlord does not give you a chance to participate in the inspection or does not provide you with a copy of the report within the timeline, they cannot claim your deposits. But if you fail to participate in an inspection after receiving two chances, you may lose the right to receive your deposits.
Out from the Old, Into the New
Finally! You have successfully moved out from your old place and have moved into a new chapter of your live. Congratulations! With your experience as a tenant, you are equipped to take on new challenges and succeed in future housing endeavours.
The staff at Progressive Housing Society tries their best to help clients navigate the struggles of looking for housing solutions. We have a number of services available. If you or someone you know face multiple barriers to finding secure housing, we may be able to help you. Get support today!
References
Canada, Government of B.C., B.C. Law. (2000). Residential Tenancy Act. Victoria: British Columbia, Residential Tenancy. Retrieved June 13, 2019, from http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_02078_01#section41
Office of Housing and Construction Standards. (2019, June 04). Tenant Notice to End Tenancy. Retrieved June 14, 2019, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/ending-a-tenancy/tenant-notice
TRAC. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2019, from http://tenants.bc.ca/
