Roughly 3.6% of British Columbia households were forced to move or evicted in the five years prior to 2021. This figure is actually a decline from 2018 when 4.2% or more than 83,000 families were evicted in the previous 5 years.
With landlords costs increasing exponential due to the price of housing, tenants have to be diligent more than ever in paying their rent on time every month, to avoid eviction.
At South Okanagan Property Management we have rarely issued eviction notices in our 12 years of operation. In the event we do face an eviction situation we have a competent and successful process to ensure a swift vacate of the defaulting tenant.
In British Columbia, a landlord can quickly evict a tenant for not paying rent. This clause is shown in Section 46 of the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). A tenant can be evicted even if they are even a few dollars short or pay rent a day late. If the landlord decides to evict the tenant, they initiate the process by giving a ten-day notice. The notice can be served in person, dropping it in the mailbox, posting it on a door, email/fax, or through the mail. At South Okanagan Property Management we normally send the document registered mail and via email to the address of service provided, to ensure all documentation is clearly communicated to the defaulting tenant.
Once the notice has been served, the tenant has five days to pay the total rent. If the tenant does not pay the rent within 5 days, the landlord can apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) and receive an order of possession. After receiving the order of possession, if the tenant has still not moved out, the landlord can enforce the eviction with a court-approved bailiff. This is a serious consequence as the bailiff can sell the tenant’s personal property to cover their fees.The landlord can also evict a tenant for unpaid utilities. After demanding payment in 30 days, the landlord can issue a 10-day eviction notice if the utility payment isn’t received.
A 10 Day Eviction Notice is the most serious of the four types of evictions. If you do not pay your rent within five days of receiving the notice, your landlord can use the Residential Tenancy Branch’s “Direct Request” process to quickly obtain an Order of Possession without even participating in a dispute resolution hearing.
To manage a professional eviction that ultimately results in regaining possession of your property, work with an experienced lawyer who knows the Residential Tenancy Act. You can also seek help from a professional property management firm such as South Okanagan Property Management who understand the process and can share our tools and resources if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to evict a tenant.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general informational purposes only. Consult a lawyer or professional property manager to ensure accuracy in the information provided.