The Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) provides landlords and tenants with information and dispute resolution services, guided by British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. The RTB provides resources to help individuals know their rights and responsibilities as both landlord and tenant.
Housing
See their website for information, forms, tips and policy guidelines.
Not all housing is under the jurisdiction of the RTB, including strata and most roommate issues. See Is My Tenancy Covered Under B.C.’s Tenancy Laws? For a better understanding if your situation is covered.
The CRT is an independent, quasi-judicial online tribunal that is different from the traditional courtroom model. Offers an accessible, affordable way to resolve many types of civil law disputes, including disputes between roommates and within stratas, without needing a lawyer or attending court.
- Offers an online dispute resolution process that provides detailed legal information and self-help tools If you can’t resolve your dispute, a tribunal member can make a decision about it.
- Members are independent legal experts. Their decisions can be enforced like court orders.
Property
A Property Assessment Review Panel or PARP is the first level of appeal for property assessments in British Columbia.
Ensures that property assessments reflect actual (market) value and are applied consistently within a municipality or rural area
- Makes decisions regarding evidence presented by the parties to a formal complaint filed with the assessor
- Complainants file their complaint with the British Columbia Assessment Authority to have a 30 minute hearing before a Panel
- Decisions can be appealed to the Property Assessment Appeal Board
The second level of appeal for property assessments in BC.
- Deals with appeals on assessments for all types of properties — everything from single family dwellings to farms to major industry
- They will try to assist people to resolve their concerns with BC Property Assessment without the need for a hearing. If no agreement can be reached, they will make a decision as to whether the assessment will be changed
The Safety Standards Appeal Board is an adjudicative tribunal created under section 43 of the Safety Standards Act. The Board is independent of any regulating body and hears appeals brought under the Safety Standards Act, the Homeowner Protection Act and the Building Act.
- Determines if the decisions were fairly made according to the provisions of the legislation
- Appeals must be filed with the Board within 30 days of receipt of the decision under appeal
The Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board (CCALAB) is a tribunal created under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act to hear and decide appeals from licensing, registration and certification decisions about community care facilities, assisted living residences and early childhood educators.
The Board’s purpose is to provide a specialized, impartial, accessible and cost-effective forum for the hearing of appeals from licensing, regulation and certification decisions regarding community care and assisted living facilities and early childhood educators.
Construction
The Building Code Appeal Board reviews appeals of local authority decisions related to building regulations. You can submit an appeal to the board for review.
- The Building Code Appeal Board reviews appeals of local authority decisions on whether a matter conforms to a provincial building regulation, including the BC Building and Plumbing Codes. It operates under the Building Act
- The Board is made up of subject matter experts and operates independently from the government