Introduction
 

Have you always been a renter? Or have you been a homeowner for years, and renting is a fairly new experience for you?

Either way, you are in good company. Today, four out of ten seniors over the age of 75 rent, and many younger seniors rent too.
 

Most seniors find renting a positive experience. However, sometimes people aren’t quite sure what their rights and responsibilities are. Other times they are not sure what to do if a problem occurs.
As people age, their physical and personal needs often change. So this booklet also contains some information that may be useful in helping seniors continue to rent for as long as possible.

 

Please Note: This booklet covers many of your rights as a tenant. It does not list all of them. We have identified several community resources (such as tenants’ rights groups, seniors’ housing groups, government agencies and community law offices) at the end of the booklet. They can provide you with more information about your rights and responsibilities. They can also give information on any changes that may occur in the law or rental rules.
 

This booklet has been prepared to help senior renters:
 

• know their rights and responsibilities;
• understand their landlords’ rights and responsibilities;
• know what to do and where to turn if a problem arises; and
• know how to find support and resources in their communities.

It is important for seniors who rent to know they do not have to accept certain types of behaviours from people, such as:

• having their rights ignored, or
• being discriminated against or being treated unfairly because of their age, sex, race, disability, source of income, or religion.
 

Seniors do not have to put up with harassment, mistreatment or abuse.
 

A. Learn the language of renting

Who is this person you are dealing with when you rent?

It is easy to get confused by different terms used for people who own, run or take care of the building. A landlord is a person, a company, a government agency or a non-profit society that owns the building.

 
In some cases, a property management company will run the building or manage a suite for an owner.

 
Owners and property management companies often hire staff to take care of the day-to-day operation of the building. That person may be called a caretaker, janitor, building manager, or superintendent. Even though the name may be different, their responsibilities are similar. The staff person is usually responsible for:
 

• choosing tenants;
• receiving the rent;
• keeping the building and grounds clean and repaired (doing it or hiring others to do it); and
• dealing with problems in the building.
 

Usually if you have a concern or problem that needs attention, you should let staff know first. If staff is not able or willing to solve the problem, you may need to go on to someone else above the staff person, or to a government authority.
 

Throughout this booklet we use the word “landlord” to refer to the person that you are dealing with directly. Staff is supposed to act on the owner’s behalf.
 

B. Learn your rights and responsibilities as a renter

As a senior, you have all the rights and responsibilities that everyone has as a citizen and community member.
 

Every renter and landlord has many special legal rights and responsibilities too. These are written in a special law called the Residential Tenancy Act. This booklet lets you know about many of them.

****For more information on the Residential Tenancy Act, you can contact TRAC’s Tenant Hotline (phone 1-800-665-1185) or your closest Residential Tenancy Office (See page 51). The Seniors Housing Information Program (SHIP) can also provide you with information helpful to senior renters (phone (604) 520-6621).
 

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