Know Your Rights & Responsibilities

1.5 Landlord's Access

Residential tenancies
1.5.1 When can a landlord enter the tenant's home?
1.5.2 If the rental unit is for sale, when can the property be shown?
1.5.3 Can the landlord show the rental unit when the tenant is not at home?
1.5.4 What can the tenant do if the landlord enters illegally?
1.5.5 Can a tenant change the locks?

Manufactured home park tenancies
1.5.6 When can a landlord enter the tenant's home site?
1.5.7 What can the tenant do if the landlord enters illegally?

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Residential tenancies

1.5.1 When can a landlord enter the tenant's home?

A tenant is entitled to exclusive possession of a rental unit, including reasonable privacy, and quiet and peaceful enjoyment.

A landlord may enter the tenant's home only under the following circumstances:

  • there is an emergency such as a fire, damaged or blocked pipes or flooding;
  • the tenant is at home and agrees to let the landlord in;
  • the tenant agreed, not more than 30 days before, to let the landlord in for a certain reason;
  • the tenant has abandoned the rental unit;
  • the landlord has a dispute resolution officer's order or court order to enter the rental unit;
  • the landlord has given the tenant written notice at least 24 hours and not more than 30 days in advance. The notice must give the reasons for entering and the time at which the landlord will enter the rental unit. The reasons must be valid and the time in the rental unit must fall between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless the tenants agree to another time.

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1.5.2 If the rental unit is for sale, when can the property be shown?

The landlord must give the tenant written notice at least 24 hours and not more than 30 days in advance. The notice must give the reasons for entering and the time at which the landlord will enter the rental unit, which must be between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. unless the tenant agrees to another time.

A landlord can give notice setting out a reasonable schedule of viewing times for an upcoming period. The tenant's rights to reasonable privacy and freedom from unreasonable disturbance must be taken into consideration in establishing a viewing schedule.

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1.5.3 Can the landlord show the rental unit when the tenant is not at home?

If the landlord complies with the rules given in the answer above, the landlord can show the rental unit when the tenant is not at home.

1.5.4 What can the tenant do if the landlord enters illegally?

If a landlord does not follow these rules, a tenant can contact a Residential Tenancy Branch office to help resolve the dispute. If the dispute goes to dispute resolution and the dispute resolution officer believes the landlord may continue to enter the rental unit illegally, the tenant may be allowed to change the locks and keep the only keys. The tenant must give the landlord the keys when they move out. If the tenant does not do so, the landlord can deduct the cost of changing the locks from the security deposit with the tenant's permission or a dispute resolution officer's order.

1.5.5 Can a tenant change the locks?

Tenants must not change the locks without the landlord's permission or without a dispute resolution officer's order.

If an emergency occurs when the tenant is not at home and the door cannot be opened, the landlord or emergency personnel may remove the door.

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Manufactured home park tenancies

1.5.6 When can a landlord enter the tenant's home site?

A tenant is entitled to exclusive possession of a manufactured home site, including reasonable privacy, freedom from unreasonable disturbance, and quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the manufactured home site.

A landlord may enter the tenant's site only under the following circumstances:

  • to collect rent, or give or serve a document required under the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act;
  • there is an emergency and entry is necessary to protect life or property;
  • the tenant is at home and agrees to let the landlord enter the site;
  • the tenant agreed, not more than 30 days before, to let the landlord enter the site for a certain reason;
  • the tenant has abandoned the site;
  • the landlord has a dispute resolution officer's order or court order to enter the site;
  • the landlord has given the tenant written notice at least 24 hours and no more than 30 days in advance. The notice must give the reasons for entering, which must be reasonable, and the time that the landlord will enter the site. The time in the notice must fall between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless the tenant agrees to another time.

1.5.7 What can the tenant do if the landlord enters illegally?

If a landlord does not follow these rules, a tenant can contact a Residential Tenancy Branch office to help resolve the dispute. If the dispute goes to dispute resolution and the dispute resolution officer believes the landlord may continue to enter the site illegally, the dispute resolution officer may suspend or set conditions on the landlord's right to enter the site.

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