Here's a great list of stuff you need to know about getting your own place, setting up a phone number and hydro account and learning your rights as a tenants. Being aware will make this first step into the real world a lot easier.
your Social Insurance Number
your Driver's License number
your place of employment and employers name
two references with telephone numbers (preferably in BC but they can
be from
the name of your landlord if the last person who lived in your place
was a credit risk
Your connection fee would be $45, and if in Squamish your monthly bill
would be $15
If this is your first time on your own and you're looking for a place to live the best thing you can do to find a place is to look in your local paper and to ask people you know. Often your friends and family will know about people who are moving out and have a place they need to rent out. If you can go this route you will usually get more honest information about what the place is really like too. (As in, whether or not the roof leaks, if the furnace is extremely loud, if the neighbours like to fight at 2:00 am)
If you are looking in the paper for a place you might want ot keep in mind whether or not the building is smoking or non-smoking, if they allow pets and how close the building is to transportaion and stores. Take a friend or relative with you when you go to check the place out, preferably someone who has lived on their own before, they can give you some good advice and act as a withness to what the place looks like and what the landlord said.
Things to look for:
check the appliances, are they in good condition?
is the fridge cold?
does the oven turn on?
are there any wires sticking out of the wall?
do the locks on the doors work?
does the hot water run when you turn the tap on?
does the toilet flush?
do the taps leak?
are there any leakage spots on the ceiling?
how safe is the area you'll be parking in?
Things to ask about:
noise
water leakage
who is responsible for repairs
if you can paint
if they'll supply the paint
who takes care of the yard (if it's a house or condo)
if they've ever had bugs (woodbugs, cockroaches etc)
what does the rent include?
I once lived in a farmhouse in the Fraser Valley and didn't ask the landlord whether or not the pipes ever froze during the winter. I was on well water and didn't know that I was supposed to leave all of the taps running during the winter time. Well, one morning I woke up and everything was frozen, I couldn't shower, wash dishes or flush my toilet. And the worst part was that I had to wait for the weather to warm up before they unfroze. Do not make the same mistake I did. Ask, ask, ask.
If you find a place you like and you are going to move in you will probably be required to pay a damage deposit, which you will get back when you move out if no damage is done to the place you're renting. Make sure you find out who the contact perosn is if you have any problems and also find out what your rights are as a tenant (read on for details).
Ps. if you are moving from one rental place to another your landlord may try to tell you that you have to move out by 12 noon. This is wrong, a court in BC recently ruled that it is unreasonable to expect that someone can be fully moved by the 12 noon deadline. So, although it's nice if you can be out by that time, negotiate with your landlord if you can't. Never be afraid to speak up for what you want.
Tenants in BC are protected by the Residential Tenancy Act. The Act spells out the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords. You can use the Act to deal with problems you have with your landlord.
get everything in writing. This means your tenancy
agreement plus any promises your landlord makes. (like getting new
carpet, fixing the hole in the wall etc.)get receipts, especially if you pay cash. You need
proof that you paid your security deposit and your rent.put everything in writing. This means everything
you need or want from your landlord, like repairs.have a witness. Ask a neighbour or friend to be
your witness when you're moving in or out. They can see what shape the apartment
is in, and can tell the landlord how clean you left it. Get your witness
to write down what they saw or heard, and get them to sign the statement.
Even if they move away, you will have their statement if you need it later.take photos. They are a good way to prove that
something needs fixing. Put the date on the back of the photo, and have
a witness sign it.know your rights and responsibilities before you
take action. Unfortunately, what you think is fair may not be how the law
works.
the agreement is dated
the agreement is signed by both you and your landlord
both you and your landlord put your initials beside
any changes to the agreement
the agreement says the same things you and your
landlord agreed to when you spoke (if you don't put it in writing, it is
not part of the agreement)
you get a copy of the agreement right away (in
case you need proof)
The landlord may ask you for some money before you move in. Be careful!!! If you pay a deposit and then change your mind, you might not be able to get your money back. If the landlord can't rent the place to someone else, they might try to make you pay the month's rent.
Don't sign anything and don't give money to the
landlord until all your questions are
Make sure you really want the place before you
pay any money.
Whenever you give the landlord cash, get a receipt.
A landlord has the right to ask you for references (letters from your old landlords that say you are a good tenant). A landlord can also ask questions about your income, to make sure you are able to pay the rent.
A landlord usually cannot discriminate against you or turn you away because of your race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, or age (between 19 and 65 years). She also can't discriminate against you if you're married or not, if you have children, or if you have a disability.
If you think you've been discriminated against, you can make a complaints to the BC Council of Human Rights (1-800-663-0876). You can also phone the BC Human Rights Coalition (1-604-689-8474) for more information. You have only six months to file a complaint with the Council of Human Rights.
A landlord will usually write a tenancy agreement that protects their interests, not yours. Make sure the agreement protects you, too.
Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. Read every word carefully. Do not sign the agreement until you're sure about what it says.
Make sure you know what your rent includes.
Get everything in writing. If you add or
change anything in the agreement, both you and your landlord should write
your initials beside every change.
Ask your landlord to cross off any parts
of the agreement you want changed. For
Get a copy of the agreement and keep it
in a safe place. If the landlord breaks a
Get you landlord's name, address and phone
number. You need to know who you are dealing with. Get the name and phone
number of the manager or agent you talk with,
The landlord must give you a copy of the
tenancy agreement no later than 21 days after you sign it. If you don't
get a copy by then, you don't have to pay your rent until
If you get a new landlord your old agreement
still stands.
There are some things a landlord can't put in a tenancy agreement because they are illegal. For example, your agreement might say "the landlord may enter your suite at any time." This is illegal. The law sets strict limits on when you landlord can come in, and this cannot be changed by the tenancy agreement. Your agreement might say "no guests." This is also illegal. A landlord can't stop you from having guests (but if you live in a hotel, there may be special rules about guests). If you think part of your agreement is illegal, phone the Tenant Hotline (1-800-665-1185).
Repairs and services
The law says a landlord must keep a place healthy, safe and "suitable for occupation." Your landlord has to make any repairs that are needed for your health and safety. Your landlord is responsible for repairing:
heating
plumbing
electricity
locks
walls, floors and ceilings (including water leaks
or holes)
fire doors and fire escapes
intercoms
elevators
Anything included in your rent must also be kept in good shape. For example, your landlord is responsible for repairing:
fridge and stove
laundry facilities
furniture influded in your rent
garage and storage sheds
For more information, and a very helpful pamphlet on your rights, call the Tenants Rights Action Coalition at 1-800-665-1185.
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities 1-800-663-1278
Law Line Legal Services Society (in Vancouver) 1-604-660-4673
Lawyer Referral 1-800-663-1919
United Manufactured Homeowners Association in BC 462-7599
Subsidized Housing
BC Housing Management Commission 433-2218
Co-op Housing
Co-operative Housing Federation of BC 879-5112
