🍁 For rentals in British Columbia, Canada
The easiest way to start a tenancy in BC
A simple checklist for landlords and tenants in British Columbia: lease agreement, deposit, move-in inspection, utilities, insurance, and next steps.
Landlord checklist: before your tenant moves in
🖨 Print this checklistSix steps, all with official BC government links. Check them off as you go.
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Prepare the tenancy agreement
Every BC tenancy needs a written agreement with the standard terms required by the Residential Tenancy Act. Use the official form (RTB-1) — or join the waitlist for a guided online version.
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Collect tenant details
Get full legal names, contact info, and emergency contacts for everyone on the lease before move-in day. You will need them for the agreement and the inspection report.
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Review deposit rules
Security deposits are capped at half of one month’s rent (same cap for a pet deposit). You must return deposits within 15 days after the tenancy ends or apply to keep them.
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Complete the move-in inspection
Walk through the unit together and record its condition on the official Condition Inspection Report (RTB-27). Skipping it can cost you the right to claim against the deposit.
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Share key move-in information
Give your tenant keys, garbage/recycling schedules, parking and strata rules, and your contact details for repairs. A short welcome sheet prevents most early disputes.
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Keep signed documents safely
Give the tenant a copy of the signed agreement within 21 days and keep your own copies of the agreement and inspection report for the entire tenancy.
Raising rent later? You’ll need the official notice and at least three months’ warning — see the BC rent increase rules ↗
Tenant checklist: before you move in
🖨 Print this checklistSix steps to a smooth move-in. Check them off as you go.
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Review and sign the tenancy agreement
Read every term before signing. BC has a standard agreement (RTB-1), and certain terms are required by law no matter what the document says.
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Set up BC Hydro and utilities
Open or move your electricity account before move-in day so the power is in your name from day one. Check whether gas, internet, and water are separate.
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Get tenant insurance
Your landlord’s insurance does not cover your belongings. Tenant insurance is inexpensive and many landlords require proof of it before move-in.
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Set up mail forwarding
Forward mail from your old address with Canada Post so you never miss tax slips, renewals, or government letters.
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Update your address
Use BC’s one-stop address change service to update your driver’s licence, MSP, and other provincial records in one go.
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Complete the move-in inspection
Do the walkthrough with your landlord and make sure existing damage is written into the Condition Inspection Report. It protects your deposit when you move out.
What we’re building
We’re building a guided online flow that lets landlords and tenants complete BC tenancy paperwork without manually filling PDFs.
- Guided lease agreement
- Tenant invite link
- Electronic signatures
- Deposit payment option
- Move-in checklist
- Rent increases & move-out inspections
Join the early access list
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