Metro Vancouver · Landlords & tenants
Khurana Law represents both tenants and landlords dealing with RTB disputes in Coquitlam and Metro Vancouver. Evictions, rent, repairs and security deposit questions can be discussed through remote consultations in English, Punjabi and Hindi. A clear timeline separates the tenancy issue from surrounding disagreements.
Rent default and alleged cause use different notice periods from occupancy or demolition. We check whether the facts fit the stated ground, including whether a proposed major renovation must instead be addressed through the RTB’s order process.
Challenging a notice means more than telling the landlord you disagree. We review the filing deadline, identify the grounds for a response and prepare evidence for the requested cancellation.
We help landlords seek possession orders and tenants respond to possession applications. An order does not authorize informal self-help eviction; lawful enforcement is a separate step.
A landlord may seek compensation for unpaid rent or proven damage; a tenant may contest the basis or calculation. We organize the claim around records rather than unsupported estimates.
We advise on deposit returns, claims against deposits and the significance of a written forwarding address. Inspection obligations and statutory exceptions should be checked before assuming either party can keep the money.
We help tenants assess proposed increases and landlords understand the requirements before issuing them. Timing, form and any authorized exception matter alongside the percentage permitted for the relevant year.
A disagreement about heat, appliances or an included service should be tied to the tenancy agreement and legal duties. We help tenants request relief and landlords respond with the relevant maintenance record.
Privacy and unreasonable disturbance complaints require an evidence-based assessment. We advise landlords and tenants on the legal issue, the response already made and appropriate next steps.
We help clients understand what can lawfully follow an unpaid monetary order or unfulfilled possession order. Court requirements differ, so the document and intended remedy must be assessed first.
A Coquitlam tenant receiving instructions from several people should preserve the agreement and identify the landlord named in it. Keep communications from agents and relatives, but do not assume every request changes your obligations or provides an authorized method of service.
Prepare a dated sequence of requests, responses and events. Evidence that explains the specific loss or remedy you seek is more useful than a large folder of unexplained screenshots.
If more than one person manages your Coquitlam property, maintain a consistent record of notices and payments. Confirm who has authority to act, and avoid contradictory instructions that make the arrears calculation or the reasons for a notice harder to explain.
A claim should explain each amount and its supporting record. Separate rent arrears from alleged damage, deduct payments received and avoid treating the deposit as an automatic penalty.
The same RTB framework applies in Coquitlam, but the evidence and deadlines come from your particular tenancy. A clear sequence prevents a hearing from becoming an unstructured exchange of allegations.
Identify the remedy, confirm RTB jurisdiction and file the appropriate application within the applicable deadline.
After filing, follow the directions for delivering documents to the other party. An organized service record helps establish compliance with the applicable rules.
Check the hearing package for the applicable evidence rules. Submit and serve relevant records on time, with labels that connect each item to the claimed remedy.
RTB hearings are usually remote, commonly by telephone conference. Use the telephone or video arrangements specified in your hearing notice; do not assume the hearing format.
The written reasons explain the outcome; the order sets out what must be done. Keep both and identify any deadline or unmet obligation before taking further action.
If an internal review is being considered, check the statutory grounds immediately. Its time limits vary and can be much shorter than the separate court-review period.
A court challenge examines the decision through judicial-review principles, not a fresh RTB trial. Discuss the deadline, procedure and any application to suspend enforcement promptly.
For Coquitlam renters and owners, time usually runs from a legally significant event, not from the day advice is obtained. Confirm receipt and deemed-service rules before counting days.
| Issue | Deadline or limit | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Dispute a 10-day unpaid-rent notice | 5 days after receiving the notice. | RTA s. 46 |
| Dispute a one-month notice for cause | 10 days after receiving the notice. | RTA s. 47 |
| Dispute a landlord or purchaser occupancy notice | Current three-month notice: 21 days after receiving it. Do not rely on the former two-month / 15-day rule. | RTB occupancy notices |
| Dispute a four-month demolition or conversion notice | 30 days after receiving the notice. Major renovations use a different RTB order process, not this notice. | RTA ss. 49, 49.2 |
| Return a security or pet damage deposit, or claim against it | 15 days after the later of the tenancy ending and receipt of the tenant’s forwarding address in writing, subject to statutory exceptions. | RTA s. 38 |
| Apply for judicial review of a final RTB decision | 60 days from the date the decision is issued. The court has a limited power to extend time; do not assume an extension or automatic stay. | ATA s. 57; RTA s. 5.1 |
| RTB monetary claim limit | $35,000, matching BC’s Small Claims limit. Larger claims generally belong in BC Supreme Court, except certain 12-month-rent compensation claims under RTA ss. 51(2) and 51.3. | RTB monetary jurisdiction |
Some online guides still describe superseded BC eviction routes. Personal occupancy generally now uses three months’ notice and a 21-day dispute window. A four-month demolition or conversion notice must not be presented as a renovation notice: major renovations generally require an RTB application for an order. Two-month notices currently address loss of subsidized-housing eligibility. Confirm the exact document and how it was served.
Khurana Law combines RTB hearing work and court appearances with representation of both owners and renters. Clients can discuss their files in English, Punjabi or Hindi through the Surrey and Vancouver offices. Clear advice about evidence and remedies helps you assess the next step without an assurance of any particular result.
An RTB party does not have to retain a lawyer. You may still want advice about an urgent notice, a complex claim or preparation for questions at the hearing. The relevant documents and your goals help determine whether a consultation, document review or representation is appropriate. Conflicting instructions from different people are worth reviewing against the signed agreement.
Yes, Khurana Law can assist with an RTB matter remotely from its Surrey and Vancouver offices. Residence elsewhere in BC does not by itself prevent representation. Consultations are offered in English, Punjabi and Hindi, and the hearing notice confirms how you and your representative are to participate. Identify the person responsible for sending the complete file to the lawyer.
A valid renovation-related eviction requires more than a letter asking you to leave. BC’s major-renovation process generally involves an RTB application for an order and proof of the legal conditions. Preserve the proposal and all notices so the appropriate response and any hearing obligations can be identified. Keep the renovation proposal distinct from any personal-occupancy explanation.
Getting the deposit back begins with the move-out documentation and a written forwarding address. Unless an exception applies, the landlord must repay or seek an RTB claim within 15 days after the later trigger. If that does not happen, advice can assess the appropriate application and any applicable statutory remedy. Note which agent received the forwarding address and on what date.
A landlord can obtain help preparing or pursuing an unpaid-rent application. The amount should be supported by the agreement and payment records, with all credits accounted for. A possession claim may also arise, but ending the tenancy does not itself recover money or authorize informal enforcement against the tenant. Use one reconciled ledger rather than competing payment spreadsheets.
Duration varies according to the application, scheduling and what happens after the hearing. An urgent process is available only for matters meeting its requirements. Even after an order is issued, obtaining payment or possession may require further steps. Plan around the dates in your own notice rather than an estimated online timeline. Changes in the person managing the property do not set a hearing date.
Share a brief description and the important dates. A first inquiry is a chance to discuss the next step, not the creation of a lawyer-client relationship.
