British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) has imposed a $5,000 administrative penalty on the owner of the West Hotel, a single room occupancy hotel in Vancouver.

The RTB levied the penalty after determining that the landlord had failed to comply with an order to restore heat to the room of one of the hotel’s tenants.

On July 2, 2015, a tenant of the West Hotel participated in an RTB dispute resolution hearing on the basis that the tenant’s room had no heat. Following the hearing, the RTB ordered the landlord to repair the heating by Sept. 30, 2015. The landlord did not comply with the order and, in accordance with the Residential Tenancy Act, the RTB has issued an administrative penalty of $5,000.

The B.C. government introduced administrative penalty legislation to encourage landlords and tenants to comply with residential tenancy legislation. Administrative penalties may be considered by the RTB for serious, repeated and deliberate cases of non-compliance. Before imposing an administrative penalty, the RTB has to consider a number of factors, including previous contraventions and the gravity and magnitude of the alleged contravention.

A copy of the RTB’s letter to the landlord can be viewed at:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/download/CBBFD0B340AD4709A63642B81FF9E5A0