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Residential tenancy compliance and enforcement

Last updated on December 7, 2023

Residential tenancy laws are enforced by the Residential Tenancy Branch’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit (CEU). 

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Investigating tenancy law violations 

The CEU investigates allegations of repeated or serious and deliberate violations of the Residential Tenancy Act or the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. If a landlord or tenant is not following B.C. tenancy laws, a complaint can be submitted and a compliance officer will assess your complaint. If your complaint is accepted for an investigation, it will be escalated to an investigator.

The CEU works with local government compliance units and other law enforcement, including police, to protect the rights of all landlords and tenants.

For example, the CEU may investigate:  

The CEU is not an alternative to the Residential Tenancy Branch dispute resolution process. You will not receive any compensation as a result of a CEU investigation.

How the CEU operates

Compliance investigators from CEU investigate complaints. Investigators use several approaches to make sure landlords and tenants are compliant with B.C. tenancy laws:

  • Education and awareness
  • Early interventions for serious non-compliance
  • Verbal or written warnings 
  • Administrative financial penalties​

Learn more about the investigation process or possible financial penalties. 

Before submitting a complaint

Before submitting a complaint to CEU, try using these communication tips and tools for the resolving problems:

How to submit a complaint

If you are concerned that a landlord or tenant are repeatedly or seriously and deliberately violating tenancy laws in B.C. you can submit a complaint to the CEU.

Submit online

All complaints must be submitted to the CEU through the online intake. To submit a complaint you will need:
  • A Basic BCeID account to access the Online Complaint Intake
  • All evidence and tenancy agreements in digital format and ready for upload (see restrictions on evidence size and format)
  • Anonymous complaints are generally not accepted. Make sure to provide contact information where requested
 

If you don't have a computer, you can check your local library for computer access, or contact RTB.