I’ve received many complaints from Burnaby tenants about their landlords, but one common issue seems to be about receiving their mail.
Several local renters say the landlords have set up systems in which the mail arrives into a locked box and so they have to ask to receive it each day.
“This isn’t right,” wrote Terry. “I shouldn’t have to beg to receive my mail but that's what they make me do. I literally have to always ask. But my landlord has the only key. Sometimes they aren’t home for days and I have to wait until they get back. It’s just so sleazy of them.”
K. was another Burnaby renter who shared her story.
“When I moved into the suite I live in last summer, all was well. I'm coming home one afternoon and notice out of the corner of my eye that the landlords had changed the mailbox to one with a lock on it and I could no longer check my mail. I sent the landlord a copy of the Residential Tenancy Policy Guidelines from the Residential Tenancy Branch and pointed out the section that stated they were obligated to provide tenants with a key to mailboxes or any other common areas. They then quickly went back to using the regular, unlocked mailbox.
“Fast forward to today, when my landlord informs me that they again planned on using the locking mailbox. I informed them that if they wanted to use it, I required a key, as it's not only in the rulebook, but they do not even check their mail regularly so I cannot trust them to give me my mail in a timely manner.
“What did my landlord do? Walked away. If you aren't going to follow the rules, you have no business being a landlord. If you want to be a landlord and aren't going to follow the rules, then prepare to deal with the Residential Tenancy Branch. Landlords cannot simply do whatever they want.”
All the rules are set out in writing. Being a landlord means more than just collecting the rent. Read up and treat your tenants with respect.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
