Canada BC Residential Tenancy Form RTB-1: Required Sections

The RTB-1 form is the standard Residential Tenancy Agreement published by the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). While British Columbia does not legally mandate the use of the RTB-1 specifically, the form ensures full compliance with Residential Tenancy Act, SBC 2002, c. 78 (BC RTA) section requirements for content. This deep-dive explains every required section of RTB-1, the statutory backing for each, and the consequences of omission.

1. Statutory Foundation: BC RTA s.13

Under BC RTA s.13(2), every residential tenancy agreement in British Columbia must include:

• (a) the standard terms prescribed by the Residential Tenancy Regulation Schedule;
• (b) the names and addresses of the landlord and tenant;
• (c) the address of the rental unit;
• (d) the date the tenancy starts;
• (e) whether the tenancy is for a fixed term or periodic;
• (f) the amount of rent payable and the day on which it is due;
• (g) the amount of any security deposit and pet damage deposit.

Failure to include the standard terms results in those terms being deemed included under BC RTA s.13(3) — the tenant cannot lose the protection by oversight in drafting.

Primary source — RTB-1 PDF: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housing-and-tenancy/residential-tenancies/forms/rtb1.pdf

2. Section 1 — Parties

RTB-1 Section 1 identifies the landlord(s) and tenant(s):

• Full legal names of all landlords;
• Full legal names of all tenants (each adult occupant should be named);
• Service address for the landlord (where notices may be hand-delivered or mailed) — required under BC RTA s.13(2)(b).

If a property manager acts on behalf of the landlord, both the owner and the agent’s contact information should appear.

3. Section 2 — Rental Unit

Section 2 describes the rental unit:

• Civic address (street number, street, city, postal code);
• Unit, suite, or apartment designation;
• Whether the unit is a basement suite, secondary suite, room in a shared house, or full unit;
• Description of any included furniture or appliances.

If the rental unit is a basement suite where the tenant does not share kitchen or bathroom facilities with the landlord, the BC RTA fully applies. If the tenant does share kitchen or bathroom with the landlord, BC RTA s.4(c) excludes the tenancy from RTA coverage.

4. Section 3 — Term

Section 3 specifies whether the tenancy is fixed-term or periodic under BC RTA s.13(2)(e):

• Fixed term — start date and end date specified. After the end date, the tenancy may continue as periodic unless the landlord and tenant sign a new fixed-term agreement.
• Periodic — month-to-month (most common), week-to-week, or other interval. Continues until terminated by either party with statutory notice.

5. Section 4 — Rent

Section 4 sets:

• Monthly rent amount;
• Day of the month rent is due;
• Method of payment (e-transfer, cheque, direct deposit, etc.);
• Whether utilities are included in rent or charged separately.

Rent must be a fixed amount; “rent will be determined later” or “market rate” is not enforceable.

6. Section 5 — Security Deposit

Under BC RTA s.19(1), the security deposit must not exceed half a month’s rent. Section 5 specifies:

• Amount of security deposit;
• Date paid;
• That the deposit is held in trust by the landlord under BC RTA s.20.

If a pet is permitted, a separate pet damage deposit of up to half a month’s rent may be charged under BC RTA s.19(2). This is an additional deposit, not a substitute.

7. Section 6 — Pet Damage Deposit (If Applicable)

Section 6 specifies:

• Whether pets are permitted;
• Type and number of pets;
• Pet damage deposit amount (max half a month’s rent under s.19(2)).

A “no pets” clause is permitted under BC RTA s.18(2) — unlike Ontario, BC landlords may prohibit pets.

8. Section 7 — Standard Terms (Schedule)

The BC Residential Tenancy Regulation Schedule contains the mandatory standard terms that apply to every tenancy whether or not the parties write them in. Topics include:

• Landlord’s right of access (s.29) — 24 hours written notice for routine inspections;
• Tenant’s obligation to keep the unit reasonably clean;
• Landlord’s repair obligations (s.32);
• Quiet enjoyment (s.28);
• Restrictions on assignment and subletting (s.34).

A tenancy agreement that omits these terms still binds the parties to them under BC RTA s.13(3).

9. Section 8 — Other Terms

Section 8 captures landlord-specific or unit-specific terms that are not prescribed by regulation. Examples:

• Smoking policy (no smoking inside, designated smoking area);
• Number of permitted occupants;
• Parking allocation;
• Storage locker assignment;
• Use of common amenities (gym, pool, etc.).

Under BC RTA s.6(3), any term that contradicts the BC RTA or the Residential Tenancy Regulation is unenforceable. A clause attempting to waive deposit interest, exclude condition inspection reports, or override notice periods is void.

10. Section 9 — Condition Inspection Report

The Condition Inspection Report (CIR) is required under BC RTA s.23 at the start of the tenancy and s.35 at the end. The RTB-1 references the obligation but the CIR itself is a separate form (RTB-27).

Critical penalty under BC RTA s.24: If the landlord fails to schedule and conduct the move-in CIR (or fails to offer two opportunities to the tenant), the landlord’s right to claim against the security deposit for damages is extinguished. The tenant gets the full deposit back regardless of damage.

11. Section 10 — Signatures

All landlords and tenants must sign and date the agreement. Electronic signatures are valid under BC’s Electronic Transactions Act. Each party should retain a signed copy.

12. Add-Ons Often Bundled With RTB-1

A complete BC tenancy package usually includes:

• RTB-1 — the master agreement;
• RTB-27 — Condition Inspection Report (move-in);
• Receipt for security deposit — required under BC RTA s.20(b);
• Receipt for pet damage deposit — if applicable;
• Strata bylaws — if the unit is in a strata corporation, the tenant should be given a copy.

13. Common Drafting Errors to Avoid

14. Annual Rent Increase Under BC RTA s.42

A separate notice (Three Month Notice form) is required for rent increases under BC RTA s.42. The annual cap for 2026 is 3.0% under the BC Residential Tenancy Regulation. The increase may occur once per 12 months with 3 months written notice.

The RTB-1 itself does not include the rent-increase notice; that is a subsequent action during the tenancy.

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Sources

• BC Residential Tenancy Act SBC 2002 c.78 — https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01
• Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies
• RTB-1 form (Residential Tenancy Agreement) — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/housing-and-tenancy/residential-tenancies/forms/rtb1.pdf
• RTB Forms hub — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/forms
• BC Tenancy guidance — https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy