Posts Tagged ‘Surrey landlords’

Fire Safety Campaign For BC Landlords 2019-2020!

Sunday, September 1st, 2019

fire safety campaign

We Want Every Private Residential Landlord in BC To Make Sure Your Rental Property is “Fire Safe” to Protect Your Tenants in 2019-2020!

BC landlords know the importance of renting out nice rental units. After all, if you were a tenant you would want to rent a nice and clean property. There are lots of great tenants out there and they are seeking professional landlords who make sure their rental property looks to be in top notch condition.

Experienced BC landlords know that beauty is only step one when you rent out your property.  You also need to make sure your rental property is safe and you know the rules for safety!

These landlords know how to avoid the ‘bad tenants’ out there as you can see from Landlords in BC – Top 5 Tenant Screening Mistakes, and know good landlords who find good tenants take the time to educate ourselves on the laws of the province and provide safe housing to tenants.

Fire safety is a huge issue. It’s vitally important small residential landlords make sure their rental property is safe and legal.

In order to help BC residential landlords we contacted the very helpful Stephen Watt. He’s the Codes and Standards Coordinator for the Office of the Fire Commissioner, Emergency Management B.C.

We truly appreciate the time Officer Watt spent to help us educate residential BC landlords.

1. What are the responsibilities of private residential landlords when it comes to fire safety?

The owner or owners authorized agent is required to carry out the provisions of the BCFC.

2. What are the rules for rental properties regarding making their property fire safe? Are there general guidelines or specific rules? Where can these be found for landlords to learn to make their rentals safe for tenants?

The requirement is to maintain the existing life safety systems installed in the building in working condition as per the original approved (by local building official) design.

Smoke alarms are required (as per Bulletin Smoke Alarm Bulletin – 2012 07 16 (Revised 2013 12 13)

3. Are these rules the same in all of the province?

Yes, in all areas under provincial jurisdiction. The City of Vancouver has similar requirements.

4. What are the rules for landlords when it comes to smoke alarms?

See Smoke Alarm Bulletin – 2012 07 16 (Revised 2013 12 13)

5. What are the rules for landlords when it comes to carbon monoxide alarms?

If they are installed they are to be maintained in working condition as per manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Regarding enforcement of the laws, what type of fines can landlords face if they are not following the laws?

See http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96144_01#section45

Offence by owner or occupier

45 (1) An owner or occupier of a building or premises who fails to comply with an order made under this Act commits an offence.

(2) A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on conviction to the penalties provided in the Offence Act.

(3) In the case of a continuing offence, a person who commits the offence is liable to a further penalty of not more than $50 for each day during which the offence continues.

7. What can tenants do if they worry their rental home isn’t fire safe?

The OFC can be called at 1-888-988-9488

The local fire department can also be called

8. What happens if a tenant disables a smoke alarm? Can they be fined?

No the tenant cannot be fined; however, a compliance Order can be written against the owner to install a working smoke alarm.

9. Are there any great resources you recommend for residential landlords to learn more about their responsibilities when it comes to fire safety?

The OFC Bulletins, the Fire Services Act, and the BCFC

• Public Education Bulletins – http://www.embc.gov.bc.ca/ofc/public-ed/index.htm

Houses used for Boarders, Lodgers and Roomers – 2005 12 20
Smoke Alarm Bulletin – 2012 07 16 (Revised 2013 12 13)
Consent to Enter a Private Dwelling – 2014 05 15

• Fire Safety Legislation

The Office of the Fire Commissioner administers the Fire Services Act and the BC Fire Code. Under this legislative authority, the Office appoints and trains local assistants to the fire commissioner (LAFC), implements fire safety regulations, processes technical code changes and resolves appeals.

Fire Services Act
2012 BC Building Code and 2012 BC Fire Code

10. How can small private residential landlords go the extra mile to make their rental property ultra safe for their tenants.

• Owners must maintain the existing life safety systems as per original approved building design.

• Provide additional battery operated smoke alarms in bedrooms , as smoke alarms in bedrooms are now required in all new dwellings unit built/constructed under the 2012 BC Building Code

• Provide tenants with OFC Bulletins and familiarization with the life safety system installed in the building, as part of fire safety planning.

BC Landlords make the extra effort to make sure your BC rental property is safe for your tenants.

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BC Landlords: Premium Tenant Credit Checks for $12/check!

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

March 3rd, 2014

BC Landlords Landlords Are Helpless Against Bad Tenants No Now With Tenant Credit Checks

Are Landlords Helpless Against Bad Tenants? Not Anymore! This Deal Can’t Be Beat!

Landlords across British Columbia are becoming aware of the need to protect ourselves against bad tenants.

We’ve seen too many cases of small business landlords not getting paid rent for six months or seeing their rental property turned into a crack shack.

With an increasing pool of good tenants out there, make sure you take the necessary steps to find them (and shut out the professional tenants who want to rent from you).

How Can I Make Sure I Rent To Good Tenants?

Good tenant screening is the key.

This includes a tenant credit check which will go beyond a tenant telling you a ‘story’ and show you the real numbers and verify if they are telling you the truth.

BC Landlords Can Now Do Premium Credit Checks For Only $12 Per Check (with no hidden or annual fees!)

Many landlords don’t make tenant credit checks part of their screening process.

Why?

Many of the credit check companies out there are confusing in how they bill you.

It’s nearly impossible to know how much it will cost you with all the ‘additional fees’ they charge.

And they want an annual fee for any type discount, if they offer any at all. 

Small landlords are on a budget and paying $25 or $30 or $40 for a tenant credit is simply out of reach for most landlords.

The Problem With Asking a Friend To Do A Tenant Credit Check For You

We live in an increasingly legalistic society. 

This means it important small landlords know the rules and follow them.

Some landlords will ask a friend who is a real estate agent, works at a bank, sells mortgages or works at a car dealership to check their tenants for them.

This can lead to big problems for you and your friend and if reported to Equifax will get your friend (and their company) cut off from Equifax services.

It can also lead to a Privacy Complaint against you with the provincial government.

Getting a friend or relative to do a tenant credit check for you is simply not worth the risk when you now have safe, legal, and affordable options!

Now BC landlords can do safe, legal credit checks for an incredibly low price per check

We have partnered with GARDA a world leader in background screening.

How Long Does It Take Me To Get Set Up For Tenant Credit Checks With GARDA?

No time at all.

GARDA doesn’t require you to get ‘set up’ taking days, or weeks or months before you can do a tenant credit check.

You get a form your tenants sign and you then can get your tenant credit check done. This means:

1. No hassles

2. No delays

3. No need for copies of your passport, drivers license, etc.

You can start doing checks immediately.

What Does A GARDA Tenant Credit Check Show Me?

A GARDA credit check provides you with some of the most important information you need to make an educated decision on choosing tenants.

You get to view into the financial past and present of your potential tenant to make sure they are the right tenants for you!

– GARDA tenant credit checks confirm the tenant’s identity

– GARDA tenant credit checks verify the tenant’s employment

– GARDA tenant credit check confirms previous employment

– GARDA checks show if they have any court judgments against them

– GARDA tenant checks show you the tenant applicant’s credit score

All this information for a low cost per check.

With no annual fees. 

With no hidden additional costs.

Become a Member of the BC Landlords Association

While other groups offer very little to help small British Columbia landlords succeed, we offer real value to help you and your rental business!

For Only $12 per Check For Members You Can Make Sure You Rent to Good Tenants!

Are you willing to invest $12 to make sure you rent to good, paying tenants (and avoid the pros)?

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British Columbia Landlords: Rent Increase Guideline 2014

Wednesday, January 1st, 2014

January 1st, 2014

BC landlords British Columbia landlords Rent 2014

BC Landlords Are Asking “How Much Can I Raise the Rent In 2014?”

It’s news from the Residential Tenancies Branch that landlords all over the province are interested in.

Each year the government announces how much BC landlords can raise the rent for their tenants.

British Columbia Has Rent Control

Lots of new people who invest in residential rental properties in British Columbia are unaware we have what is called ‘Rent Control’ in this province.

This means the provincial government interferes with the rental market and controls how landlords run their rental businesses.

It doesn’t matter if you are a Vancouver landlord or if your properties are in Surrey or elsewhere, you have to obey whatever the government thinks is right when it comes to rent increases for the new year.

We are in a similar situation to what Ontario landlords face each year.

And those landlords aren’t happy with it.

Go check out the Ottawa Landlords blog to see what they face and they feel about their tiny 0.8% allowable rent increase.

How Much Can British Columbia Landlords Raise the Rent in 2014?

BC landlords can raise the rent 2.2% in 2014.

The Rent Increase for 2014 at 2.2%… It Just Feels Far Too Low!

We’ve received lots of emails already from landlords who feel the same way.

After all, the Rent Increase Guideline for BC landlords was 3.8%.

And many landlords don’t think their increased costs are lower than what we faced in 2013.

A Kelowna landlord emailed us the following message:

Property taxes go up. Hydro costs go up. Heck, even water bills are going through the roof!

Does the government really want people to invest in rental properties? Because it sure doesn’t seem like it.

I thought we decided against the NDP!

Why can’t we have the same rules as what Alberta landlords get?  My cousin is a landlord in Calgary and she is going to raise the rent over $100 for her $900 rental apartment.

That’s where the government keeps their Big Brother/Big Sister ideas away from good landlords who just want to make a profit of some sort by providing great properties to good tenants??

BC Landlords and Getting Good Results in 2014

As we have read, BC landlords faced a lot of challenges in 2013.

With a low rent increase for the new year landlords must be extra careful who they rent to.

Make sure you do proper tenant screening and don’t rent to someone who will not only give you a headache, they can stay in your property and enjoy very small rent increases for years on end.

To discuss this and other landlord matters go to the BC landlords forum.

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Investing In British Columbia: Landlords Can Take Advantage of a Growing Tenant Pool

Monday, December 2nd, 2013

Converting Prospects to Customers - Sales Doorway

As Home Prices Rise the Pool of Good Tenants Grows for BC Landlords

In our last blog post we discussed how BC landlords can enhance our chances to rent to good tenants with proper tenant screening techniques.

With proper tenant screening, including credit checks, you improve your chances of renting to good tenants who respect you, respect your rental property, and pay the rent on time.

Some potential investors have emailed us asking “are there any good tenants in BC?”

It’s a valid question considering the media attention on so many ‘tenants from hell.”

Opportunities for British Columbia Landlords

Let’s focus on the positives of investing and becoming a landlord in BC.

According to a report in Canadian Real Estate Wealth Magazine buying a home is becoming increasingly difficult.

Difficulties in getting a mortgage are only one obstacle for new buyers. Prices are rising.

You also have to service the home.  Utilities costs and taxes are rising.

An RBC report shows buying a house is simply not affordable for many renters.

The reports states that in 2013 a house owner will have to spend over 40% of household pre-tax income just to buy a small bungalow.

Owning Investment Properties Is a Business

A successful business has lots of good, paying customers and clients.

With the increasing costs of home ownership, it means many people who plan to buy a home will:

1. If they are currently renting they will hold and continue renting

2. Non-renters will decide to rent for a period of time before buying

The Pool Of Good Tenants Is Growing More people renting means the tenant pool grows.

This isn’t only happening in Vancouver.

Landlords in places like Surrey and Kelowna will also have more opportunities to rent to good tenants.

Reminder: There are Still Bad Tenants Out There

It’s important for landlords to use the proper tools and services to find good tenants.

Whenever you get the feeling of renting to tenants on your ‘gut feeling’ read this story about a Victoria landlord who is out more than $20,000 in lost rent, for fixing damages, and having to clean up the mess her tenants left.

Remember, lots of good tenants are looking for a good landlord…they are looking to rent from YOU

Make sure you screen your tenants carefully at all times.

Know what questions to ask.

Employment and tenant credit checks are a must.

Succeeding Is Now Up To You There are lots of good tenants out there.

Make sure you find them, and help them find you!

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BC Landlord and Tenant News

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

Mould, insects plague Surrey apartment building

September 7, 2011

A recent CTV report states tenants at a Surrey, B.C. apartment are not getting any help from their landlord or the government.

Kwantlen Park Manor in North Surrey has been plagued by problems with moisture and mould for years, according to tenant Sue Collard.

“Six-and-a-half years I’ve lived in this building, and I have not lived in a suite that does not leak,” she told reporters at a rally.

The property manager acknowledges problems, but says:

“I’m only the manager…go to the goddamn owners. I’ve been fighting it for the last four years myself,” he said.

The building is owned by the well-known Sahota family. In 2007, the roof of one of their East Vancouver properties, the Pandora, collapsed.

Read the CTV Report here

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