| IMPORTANT
INFORMATION (Survival Kit)
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Before you decide to rent an apartment,
make sure you review the landlord's rules and expectations
as well as the tenancy agreement. Take into consideration
such issues as the affordability, safety, and location of
the apartment as well as pet policies, limited occupancies,
and lease agreements. Keep in mind that before renting an
apartment, most landlords will ask you to fill out an application
form indicating where you work and citing references that
they may or may not check. |
The following links provide
a more detailed overview of the important things to consider when
renting an apartment in Vancouver.
Background
Checks
Before a landlord will rent an apartment
to you they will usually ask you to fill out an application form
including references proving your employment. Most apartment landlords
also require you to give them permission to perform a credit check.
Make sure you are thoroughly aware of your credit status as some
landlords can be quite strict in this regard.
Rental
Agreement 
Before you move in your landlord will ask
you to sign a rental agreement. The agreement is a contract that
should include information such as the amount and due date of
your rent, utilities included in the rent, your rights and responsibilities
and any rules your landlord expects you to follow. The agreement
may also include information about pet policies, parking and how
many people can live in the apartment. As part of every rental
agreement, whether written or verbal, the tenant is responsible
for paying rent on time and the landlord is responsible for completing
repairs.
You are expected to follow the landlord's
rules as laid out in the rental agreement as long as they are
legal and reasonable. Illegal or unreasonable rules can not be
enforced and the only method of challenging them is by ignoring
them. Any rules agreed to in the rental agreement which violate
a tenant's rights as stated in the tenancy act can not be enforced.
See also:
Residential
tenancy agreement 
Lease
Policy
A lease is an agreement to stay for a period
of time, usually six months or a year. Because of the very low
vacancy rate in Vancouver's downtown peninsula, more than 75%
of un-furnished apartments for rent require a minimum 1 year lease.
The remaining 25% allow for shorter terms like 3 months, 6 months
or even month to month. Be prepared that your monthly rent may
be slightly higher in such buildings. At the end of a lease term
your tenancy is usually changed to month to month unless otherwise
specified in your lease agreement. Make sure you read and understand
your lease agreement before signing as it can cause you problems
in the future.
If you break your lease you may be charged
a fixed penalty predetermined in your lease agreement or agreed
upon between you and the landlord. You may also be responsible
for paying the rent until another suitable tenant is found for
your apartment or your lease term ends. If you are moving from
your apartment before your lease term ends you can assign or sublet
your apartment to another tenant, with the landlord's permission.
If you choose to sublet, you are responsible for the apartment
while the new tenant lives there, however, if you assign your
apartment, all responsibility for the apartment passes to the
new tenant.
Damage
Deposit
After you agree to rent an apartment the
landlord can ask you for a damage deposit of half a months rent.
This is to cover any unpaid rent or damage you cause to your apartment
during your tenancy. Once you pay this deposit your agreement
to rent becomes a binding contract even if it is only verbal.
Make sure you obtain receipts for all cash transactions and keep
all proofs of payment until you move out.
When you move in, make sure to note any
damage to the apartment and put it in writing. Notify your landlord
and ask him or her to sign a copy of your document. Retain a copy
of this document until you receive your damage deposit back when
you move out so that you can not be held responsible for damage
done to the apartment before you moved in.
When you move out, you must give one months
notice and be in compliance with your lease agreement. Your landlord
is required to return your damage deposit plus interest within
15 days unless you agreed in writing to let him keep some of it
or he is filing for a hearing to keep the deposit. Your landlord
is entitled to keep your damage deposit if it is used towards
the cost of unpaid rent or rent in the event you break a lease
agreement, cleaning the apartment if you left it dirty, or repairing
damage you caused.
If you have not received your damage deposit
back by the time you move out make sure to keep some kind of record
of the condition you left your apartment in case your landlord
refuses to return your damage deposit. Take pictures or bring
someone as a witness or have your landlord sign a document stating
the condition of the apartment. In the event that your landlord
refuses to return your deposit, you have up to two years to take
the matter up with the residential tenancy office.
Useful links:
Residential
Tenancy Act
Rent
Rent is usually due in advance on the 1st
of every month. The amount and specific due date should be stated
in your rental agreement. Most managers prefer to be paid by cheque
and are not required, by law, to give you a receipt if you pay
by cash. In order to be able to pay by cheque, you need to have
a local bank account. If you do pay by cash make sure you take
someone with you to act as a witness in case the manager doesn't
give you a receipt and later claims you did not pay the rent.
Failing to pay your rent may lead to your eviction.
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