More Burnaby renters are speaking out about their rental horror stories.
This one involves not getting the damage deposit back for no good reason, according to “D in Burnaby.”
“I would like to know how many renters struggle to get their damage deposit back from landlords? I moved out of my previous address because the owners were moving in. I made sure the house was spotless - much cleaner then it was when I moved in. I rented steam cleaners, paid extra to haul away unwanted items to the dump, made sure the house was move-in ready. All with the promise of my deposit being returned. That never happened. I finally took them to the Residential Tenancy Branch in Burnaby, which cost me more money but I won my case and was awarded double my deposit. Then nothing. I was ghosted. I sent letters to the landlord requesting my funds and the letters were returned. I called the RTB and they said I could take the landlords to small claims court and, of course, I'd have to pay to file and still if I win it doesn't mean I'll get my money back. I'm on disability and all of this is very stressful … As a renter, you have to give the landlord all this money in good faith but good luck getting it back and what good is the RTB if it's not enforced?”
This isn’t the first such complaint forwarded to me. I’ve even gone through this myself with a landlord making up claims that I had damaged a wall. Thankfully, I had recorded on video with a time stamp the damage on the day I moved in. Still, it created a lot of anxiety.
For what it’s worth, here is what the RTB says on its website about deposits.
What does a tenant need to do to get their deposit?
- Give the landlord proper written notice to end the tenancy.
- Provide a forwarding address to the landlord, in writing.
- Thoroughly clean the unit and fix any damage done (besides wear and tear).
- Remove all belongings.
- Participate in the move-out condition inspection (or have a representative participate on your behalf).
- Sign and date the completed move-out condition inspection report.
Unless the landlord requests compensation for damage, or files a dispute resolution application requesting to keep some of the deposits, tenants should receive their deposits back within 15 days of moving out.
- Use the Returning Deposits Calculator and get information about returning and keeping deposits.
When can a landlord keep all or part of a deposit?
- If there is damage beyond normal wear and tear and the tenant agrees to an amount of compensation in writing.
- If the landlord applies for dispute resolution to keep all or part of the deposits and is awarded an amount by an arbitrator.
- If the tenant moves out and does not provide a forwarding address in writing, within one year of moving out.
- Use the Holding Deposits Calculator and get information about returning and keeping deposits
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44
