Renter rights and relocation assistance due to redevelopment

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 As of May 17th, 2018 the 2 month notice to end tenancy for renovation, demolition, and conversion is no longer valid.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

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 (790 KB) and guidelines PDF file (395 KB), you are entitled to:

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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
4. 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:
     • Tenant Relocation and Protection Guidelines PDF file (395 KB)
     • Ending a tenancy for landlord use PDF file (70 KB)
     • Compensation for ending a tenancy PDF file (343 KB)
5. 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.