What happens after the tenant receives it?
For unpaid rent, the tenant generally has five days after receiving the 10 Day Notice to pay the overdue rent in full or apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) to dispute the notice. Payment within that period generally cancels the notice. If the tenant disputes it in time, the RTB decides the dispute.
Utilities require a prior step
If the tenancy agreement requires the tenant to pay utilities and the tenant has not done so, the landlord must first give a written demand for payment. The landlord may rely on utility non-payment for a 10 Day Notice only if payment remains outstanding for 30 days after the written demand.
Before serving or responding
- Check the amount of rent or qualifying utilities, due dates, rental address and every page of the current form.
- Record how and when the notice was served. The legally recognized receipt date matters for the five-day deadline.
- Keep payment confirmations, rent ledgers, the tenancy agreement and any written demand and utility bills.
What if the tenant does not act?
If the rent remains unpaid and the notice is not disputed within the required period, the landlord may apply to the RTB for an order of possession and, if eligible, a monetary order. A direct request may be available in qualifying circumstances. The landlord must follow the order and enforcement process rather than changing locks or carrying out a self-help eviction.
Avoid this mistake
Do not confuse the notice's stated move-out date with the five-day pay-or-dispute window, and do not treat an unpaid utility bill as immediately supporting RTB-30 without the required prior demand.