CEO’s Message

David Hutniak, CEO, LandlordBC

As I prepared this message, we’ve reached a milestone that a year ago none of us envisioned, the one-year mark of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Who would have imagined that so many British Columbians would have succumbed to the pandemic, and that we find ourselves continuing to navigate through it, although with considerably greater hope and optimism?

The vaccine rollout is under way and we are hearing encouraging predictions from our healthcare leaders that we should be returning to “normal” by the summer. The arrival of summer is always a promising time, and if those predictions hold true, the arrival of summer 2021 may well prove to be more promising than all summers past. On behalf of the board and staff of LandlordBC, we all hope that you and your families are safe and well.

With the new year, and particularly after the one we’ve just been through, I thought it was important to highlight the need for you, our members, both as landlords and rental property managers, to continue to enhance your industry knowledge. Knowledge is the best way to mitigate your risk and to ensure successful tenancies, and one of the most accessible resources available to you as a member of LandlordBC (and to landlord friends and colleagues who may still not be members of LandlordBC) is the I Rent It Right online e-learning program.

Education is a fundamental necessity for success and operating in the rental housing industry is no exception. As a landlord, you must strike a balance between your rights and responsibilities and your tenant’s rights and responsibilities as dictated by the multiple pieces of legislation that govern our industry. Trying to do this without basic knowledge often ends in frustration for all parties involved. To meet the need of landlords, large and small, from across British Columbia, LandlordBC developed the comprehensive online e-learning course, titled I Rent It Right (www.landlordbc.ca/irir).

Over the course of a tenancy, the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) is the primary piece of legislation that a landlord must have a firm understanding of, and while most landlords understand that they must adhere to the RTA and its regulations, there are other pieces of legislation that can impact your business. The I Rent It Right course guides you through the steps that must be taken before a tenancy even begins, starting with the tenant selection process.

What do you, the landlord, need to know about tenant selection? In truth — a lot. The process used for selecting your tenant is the most important stage of a tenancy. However, there is not much guidance in the RTA to assist you with this. While the RTA kicks in when a tenancy begins, the tenant selection process is primarily governed by the Human Rights Code and the Personal Information and Protection Act (PIPA).

The goal of your tenant selection process should be to find the best possible candidate for the vacancy. This mean making sure the person you choose to be your tenant will be able to afford the rent, respect the property, and get along well with their neighbours and you. To do this correctly, you need to get as much information as needed to make an informed decision. Collecting personal information is where the PIPA becomes relevant.

LandlordBC’s I Rent it Right course goes into detail regarding what information landlords can ask for and, more importantly, what they cannot. The course addresses basic questions that many landlords often find confusing. Questions like:

• Are landlords allowed to run a credit check on applicants?

• Should a landlord take a photocopy of an applicant’s government ID such as a driver’s license or passport?

Many landlords are surprised to find that credit checks are generally allowed but taking a photocopy of an applicant’s ID is prohibited.

The Human Rights Code must also be considered during a landlord’s tenant selection process. Specifically, you must be sure that you do not discriminate against personal traits that are protected by the Code. These protected traits include race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or lawful source of income. I Rent It Right™ provides guidance as to why these traits are protected and how you as the landlord can ensure that you are not unintentionally discriminating against someone and situations where a protected trait, like age can be used as a deciding factor.

I Rent It Right is a comprehensive e-learning course designed to provide landlords and rental property managers with the fundamental knowledge of operating a rental housing business in B.C. Upon successful completion enrollees receive an I Rent It Right certificate and digital sticker. Completion of this course demonstrates your commitment to providing secure, professional rental housing. Proudly saying “I Rent it Right” will let renters know that you are a knowledgeable landlord and rental property manager, committed to professional rental housing.

To learn more about this program and LandlordBC’s other great resources, visit www.landlordbc.ca