B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Act includes rules that all landlords must follow before ending a tenancy in order to demolish the rental unit or do extensive renovations or repairs. These rules protect tenants while still allowing building owners to maintain their buildings.

Under section 49 (6) of the Residential Tenancy Act,

A landlord may end a tenancy in respect of a rental unit if the landlord has all the necessary permits and approvals required by law, and intends in good faith, to do any of the following:

1. demolish the rental unit;
2. renovate or repair the rental unit in a manner that requires the rental unit to be vacant;
3. convert the residential property to strata lots under the Strata Property Act;
4. convert the residential property into a not for profit housing cooperative under the Cooperative Association Act;
5. convert the rental unit for use by a caretaker, manager or superintendent of the residential property;
6. convert the rental unit to a non-residential use

• These rules balance the protection of tenants with the responsibility of landlords to maintain and update their buildings. Preventing landlords from recovering costs could deter the undertaking of renovations ensuring the viability of rental buildings.
• The Province knows building renovations are typically costly. In cases where renovations are needed, it may be unfair to the landlord to expect tenants to return to their homes at their same monthly rent as before. If a tenant thinks a landlord has ended a tenancy without a valid reason, the tenant has 15 days to dispute the notice to end tenancy through the Residential Tenancy Branch.