Residential Tenancies Branch

Light Bulbs and Fuses

s. 59(1), 72(1), The Residential Tenancies Act
Local Maintenance and Occupancy Bylaws
The Public Health Act

Definitions

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.

Lighting requirements fall under municipal bylaws or The Public Health Act. These requirements may vary from one municipality to another.

A landlord is usually responsible for:

• making sure all light bulbs and fuses are in place and working when the tenant moves in;
• replacing light bulbs in hallways and other common areas like laundry and recreational rooms and parking lots; and
• repairing light fixtures in hallways and other common areas like laundry and recreational rooms, parking lots and in rental units.

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A tenant is usually responsible for:

• replacing light bulbs in their rental unit during tenancy;
• making sure all light bulbs are in place and working when they move out;
• replacing standard fuses in their unit  (for example: the fuses in the stove); and
• making sure the fuses are in place and working when they move out.

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Procedure

Overview   

This policy is included as information for landlords, tenants and officers. If a tenant and landlord aren’t able to solve a problem with light fixtures and fuses on their own, they can ask the Branch for help.

Steps ▼   

1.   The officer encourages the landlord and tenant to share information, and       to discuss the problem, to try to come to an agreement.

2.   If the landlord and tenant can’t agree on a request involving light bulbs       and fuses, the officer determines if the request is reasonable. If the officer       decides the request is not reasonable, the officer issues a decision       denying the request.

3   If the officer decides the request is reasonable, the officer follows the       procedures under Landlord’s Responsibility for Repairs.

Forms & Form Letters

X-Referencing

For information on mediation, see Section 1.
For details on a landlord’s responsibility for repairs, see this section.

Policy Developed

September, 1992

Last Revision

March, 2004

Other Resources

None

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