Complete the five application sections
- Section 1 — Key dispute information: State when the tenancy ended, whether the home or manufactured-home site was rented, the rental address, deposit amounts, any active file number and the primary tenant applicant's contact and mailing address.
- Section 2 — Additional applicants: Enter a second tenant or authorized agent, if applicable, and attach RTB-26 for extra parties.
- Section 3 — Respondents: Identify the landlord's full legal name, business name if applicable and address for service. If ordinary service is impossible, see RTB-13 substituted service.
- Section 4 — Tenant issues: Select the specific relief: security or pet damage deposit return (including when the written forwarding address was served), other monetary loss with dollar total, emergency repair cost reimbursement, or return of identified personal property. Explain the facts under each selected item.
- Section 5 — Declaration: Primary applicant or authorized agent prints, signs and dates the form, confirming the application's accuracy and authority.
Deposit disputes: confirm the right process
Give the landlord a forwarding address in writing, keep proof of receipt or service and determine whether the landlord met the applicable deposit-return requirements. If the documentation and eligibility conditions for a direct request are met, RTB-12T-DR may be a quicker documents-only option; otherwise the regular participatory dispute process may be necessary. The direct-request process is not the right route for claiming unrelated damages or repairs.
Supporting evidence and service
Prepare the signed tenancy agreement, deposit payment receipts, forwarding-address notice and proof of service, condition inspection reports, photographs, invoices, repair records and communications relevant to the remedy. The paper application must be submitted in person at the Burnaby RTB office or a participating Service BC office, or submit an online application. The RTB issues a proceeding package to serve on each landlord respondent. Filing the application alone does not serve the other party.
Common mistakes
Using RTB-12T-PT while still living in the unit, confusing deposit refund claims with a direct request, forgetting when the landlord received the written forwarding address, failing to state the money requested, or naming a respondent without a lawful way to serve them.