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.

3If 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.

Policy Developed

September, 1992

Last Revision

July 2023

Other Resources

None

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