Tenancy Agreements

Tenancy Agreement - Failure to Deliver a Copy

s. 8, 12, The Residential Tenancies Act
 

Tenancy agreement: a contract between a landlord and a tenant that sets out the basic rules for living in a rental unit. It can be written, oral or implied.
 

If a tenancy agreement is in writing, both the tenant and landlord must sign it. The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the fully signed tenancy agreement within 21 days after the tenant has signed it and given it to the landlord. The landlord may ask the tenant to sign a receipt or note that they received a copy of the tenancy agreement.

If a tenant doesn’t get a copy of the tenancy agreement within the 21 day period, the tenant should ask the landlord, in writing, for a copy. If the landlord doesn’t provide it on request, the tenant may ask the Branch for help.

Overview

This policy is included as information for landlords, tenants and officers. If tenants and landlords aren’t able to solve problems that arise if a copy of the tenancy agreement is not delivered, they can ask the Branch for help.
 

Steps

1. A tenant may get in touch with the Branch if the landlord has not given them a copy of the tenancy agreement.
    

2. An officer will contact the landlord to confirm the information, and to see if the matter can be settled informally through mediation.
    

3. If mediation isn’t successful, the Branch will issue a decision:

For information on mediation, see Section 1.
 

September, 1992

March, 2004
 

Branch fact sheet:
      Facts About Tenancy Agreements
 

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