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Find out how you're protected if your landlord plans to renovate or develop the unit or building you rent.
Live in a single room accommodation (SRA) building?
Learn about your rights and relocation assistance by contacting the Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative.
This non-profit advocacy group works to improve living conditions in SROs and prevent evictions due to redevelopment in Vancouver.
Visit dtescollaborative.org 
or email dtes.sro.collab@gmail.com.
Your right to sufficient notice
As of May 17th, 2018 the 2 month notice to end tenancy for renovation, demolition, and conversion is no longer valid. Landlords must give 4 months notice to end tenancy for demolition, renovation or repair, or conversion, and tenants have 30 days to dispute the notice. More information is available from the Residential Tenancy Branch .
If your landlord plans to undertake major renovations or redevelop the building, they can give you a notice to end tenancy only after they have all the necessary permits issued. To check if permits have been issued or are in process, contact our Development and Building Services Centre (see contact below).
The BC Residential Tenancy Act sets out the minimum notice that your landlord must give you to move out in the case of renovations to or demolition of your building, depending on your type of tenancy.
| Type of tenancy | Notice your landlord must give you to move out |
|---|---|
| Month-to-month | 4 months notice and 1 month free rent |
| Fixed-term lease where you must move out at the end |
None, only at the end of the fixed term As of December 11, 2017, fixed term tenancy agreements can no longer include a vacate clause requiring a tenant to move out at the end of the term unless: a. The tenancy agreement is a sublease agreement; or
b. The tenancy is a fixed term tenancy in circumstances prescribed in section 13.1 of the Residential Tenancy Regulation. This Regulation specifies situations where a landlord or landlord’s close family member plans in good faith to occupy the rental unit.
|
| Fixed-term lease where you can stay past the end | 4 months notice, only at the end of the fixed term or after |
Your right to dispute the notice
You can dispute a 4 month notice to end tenancy by applying for dispute resolution at the Residential Tenancy Branch within 30 days of receiving the notice.
If you dispute the notice, an arbitrator will decide whether you must move out and until they decide, the notice is put on hold.
Learn more on the BC Government residential tenancies website
Your right to timely information
| Stage in the development process | What information you can expect |
|---|---|
| Before your landlord or their agent applies for redevelopment, or shortly after the application is opened | Your landlord's intent to redevelop, process (including tenant relocation), and timeline
For some applications (like rezonings, large developments, and ones in the West End), your landlord or their agent may also host a meeting for renters where you can ask questions |
| During the application | Your landlord's written tenant relocation plan that the City has approved |
| After all permits are issued | Your move-out date with at least 2-months' notice through a notice to end tenancy |
Mutual Agreements to End Tenancy
Rather than receive a formal Notice to End Tenancy for Landlord’s Use for renovations or demolition, you may instead enter into a Mutual Agreement to End Tenancy with your landlord, where the owner/landlord and renter agree to the terms in which a tenancy is ended.
In these cases, you are still entitled to free rent, moving expenses, alternate accommodation, special circumstances and right of first refusal, under the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy. A minimum Tenant Relocation Plan is described further below.
You can learn more about the legal regulations around ending a tenancy from the BC Residential Tenancy Branch .
Your right to relocation assistance
Based on our Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy PDF file (420 KB) and guidelines PDF file (292 KB), you are entitled to:
- Free rent or compensation, based on how long you've been a renter there:
Years you've rented the unit Your minimum compensation 1 up to 5 2-months' rent 5 up to 10 3-months' rent 10 up to 20 4-months' rent 20 and over 6-months' rent - Assistance with your moving costs
Unit you rent Your minimum compensation Studio and one-bedroom $750 or arrangement of insured movers Two-bedroom $1,000 or arrangement of insured movers - If you need it, assistance with identifying 3 or more places to move to that are:
- Leased at no more than the average rents for the area (based on CMHC data). If you have very low income and pay low rent, you may also be offered one option that's within 10% of your current rent.
- Located in Vancouver with one in your current area
- In some cases, your right to return to a unit in the redeveloped building, at a minimum discount of 20% off the unit's new rent.
- Recent changes to the Provincial Residential Tenancy Act include a requirement for additional months’ notice, right of first refusal, and enhanced compensation requirements. These requirements may apply to renters who are not eligible for additional compensation and assistance under the City of Vancouver Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.
- Effective May 17, 2018, a tenant has a right of first refusal to enter into a new tenancy agreement at a rent determined by the landlord if the landlord ends their tenancy to renovate or repair the rental unit. This right of first refusal applies only to a rental unit in a residential property containing 5 or more units. Tenants may exercise their right of first refusal using the approved form (RTB 28) PDF file (213 KB).
- Learn more about these requirements:
- If you're considered a vulnerable renter or have a special circumstance, you could be eligible for additional support and compensation.
- Contact your landlord or their agent as soon as possible, using the contact information provided by your landlord in their communications with you. If you need help contacting them, phone 3-1-1.
Get help with your rights and relocation assistance
Contact us, your landlord, or their agent using the contact information provided by your landlord.
If you don't have this information, phone our Development and Building Services Centre (see contact below) and ask to speak with the City development staff assigned to the permits on your building.
Be an informed renter
- Learn tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities under the BC Residential Tenancy Act
- Get tenant information and representation from the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre
- Take the free online course Renting it Right
- Look up residential rental buildings in Vancouver with health, safety, maintenance, tidiness, and other issues
- Find out about permits for your building with our Development and Building Services Centre (see contact below)
