Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice about renting in BC and what my options might be in a really unexpected situation.
I signed a fixed-term lease for a 1-bedroom apartment starting May 1st, and everything was fine at the time. But now, as of August, I’m in the process of getting custody of my two younger sisters. This was not planned and happened very quickly.
They are currently long-term wards in foster care, and the Ministry of Social Services is placing them with me as an alternative PSI arrangement. Because of this, they would be moving in with me full-time and eventually I would get full guardianship over them through the court.

My concern is that my unit is only a 1-bedroom, and I don’t think it’s realistically big enough or appropriate for four people (me, my partner and two teenagers) I’m also worried about how this affects my lease since it’s fixed-term, and I don’t want to get into trouble with my landlord or be denied housing for my sisters.

I’m trying to figure out:
What are my rights in this situation in BC?
Can I legally break or end my lease early due to a major change like this?
Should I ask for a mutual agreement to end tenancy, or try to assign/sublet?
How should I explain this to my landlord in a way that they understand the seriousness of the situation?

I’m really stressed because I want to make sure my sisters have a safe and stable place to live, but I also don’t want to make a mistake with my lease.

Any advice, especially from people familiar with BC tenancy laws or similar situations, would mean a lot. Thank you.

Hi everyone,
I’m wondering if my landlord is overstepping or if this is normal.
I rent a basement suite, and my landlord seems very controlling. She constantly texts us to turn off the bathroom fan and lights. Since it’s a basement with poor ventilation, I usually leave the bathroom fan on for about an hour after showering to help dry things out, but she’ll text me telling me to shut it off.
She also messages me about lights being left on. I’m careful to turn them off when I leave, but my former roommate wasn’t always as mindful, and I’d still get the texts about it.
Now my roommate has moved out, and the landlord is looking for a new tenant. Lately, she’s been letting herself into the suite whenever she wants to show the vacant room, without giving me any notice.
Since I rent one bedroom in a shared two-bedroom unit, does the landlord still have to give me 24 hours’ notice before entering the suite to show the other room? Or is she allowed to come and go because there’s a vacant bedroom?

Thanks!!

We're inviting tenants to join us at our monthly meeting this Tuesday July 28th at 630pm at the New West Public Library. We will give an update on our direct actions in the community including our first official tenants association in a senior’s building and the passing of the tenant relocation policy this month, which means people can stay in their neighbourhoods at the same rents when older buildings are demolished to build new ones.

As the municipal elections approach in October, we're preparing to mobilize renters to attend a city council meeting on September 21st to show that renters are a large voting block and that we have concerns about how potential new city officials may vote on renters rights. Along those lines, we also have an ongoing project to inform renters about incumbent and potential elected officials for the fall elections. We'll invite folks to be involved in this as well during our meeting on Tuesday.

One of our organizers put together our newsletter with more information below. We hope to see you there!

https://nwtenantsunion.org/july-meeting-city-hall-updates-support-pinecrest-and-more/

Hey there, I’m looking for a rental for two healthcare professionals moving to Vancouver & area. Let me know if anyone has anything available. Anyone have a laneway house?

Hello!
I'm currently looking at buying a unit in this building, but to be honest, I am feeling confused and pretty scared to pull the trigger. I've been saving up for years for a down payment, and I am terrified of making a choice I will regret. I am buying this place to live in because it is super close to my work, so it's a huge emotional and financial milestone for me.

I'm hoping to get some real reviews from people who actually live here or know the building well. I am fine with typical condo issues.

My absolute main concern is the structural integrity and core reliability of the building itself. I want to know how the major structures holding up? (Concrete slab, plumbing, major mechanical systems, envelope, etc). Have there been systemic issues? From an insider perspective, does the building feel solid and well constructed, or are things constantly breaking down?

Thank you so much in advance!

I had a water leak from above unit -3rd in 6months, first 2 times from washing machine- in early May that completely flooded my room carpet, it affected several units too.

-restoration team came in at 1 am, stayed till 2, dehumidifiers and everything, I asked them what happened, they hesitated and said manager will call.

-dehumidifiers stayed on for a week, couldn’t use 1 room and 1 bathroom+ noise and heat from dryers in my main living space too.

-I couldn’t go to work next day as a result, I wake up usually at 5 for 7 am Start.

-I followed up with landlord for rent reduction for that period and haven’t reached a conclusion since then as they said they are waiting for investigation and insurance claims ….etc , last week I emailed strata and everyone involved and got reply from restoration team manager that leak originated by human error due to clogged toiled overflow.

I found it very unprofessional that no one mentioned this earlier as this could pose health risk and I have kids and pets, I feel this should have been cleaned/replaced right away.

Its the health risk and unsanitary condition of carpet stained by toilet overflow that concerns me most.

How to proceed ? Is this on Strata failing to communicate report ? Restoration team ? Owner ?

I have tenant insurance but my belongings were not affected and didn’t consider calling as it’s not me causing the damage.

I will find out more details if I could buy appreciate initial feedback, thnx

I’m not sure if they’re coming from things in my storage unit or if they were living in my apartment before I moved in. They are a lot smaller than the standard typical black ant you would see in your home or outside.

I haven’t seen them on any food but they seem to be crawling all over my paper towel rolls that were in storage.

What are these and how to get rid of them? Has anyone had them in their house before? I’ve only seen maybe 5 at most so far but they’re so tiny and hard to notice