When this phase can be used
The landlord must have an RTB decision approving an additional rent increase for eligible capital expenditures. Phase 1 is the first implementation; an application under the capital-expenditure process alone is not permission to increase rent.
What to include with the notice
Use the approved Phase 1 amount for the specific rental unit, subject to the 3% additional-increase cap for the phase. Attach both RTB-53-P1D and the actual RTB approval decision. Confirm the annual allowable increase and the additional capital-expenditure increase are calculated separately and imposed together as the rules require.
Timing, amounts and delivery
For an increase under this prescribed procedure, the landlord must give tenants at least three whole rental months' written notice, using an authorized service method and allowing for legally deemed receipt. The effective date must also respect at least 12 months since rent was established or last legally increased. The additional capital-expenditure portion is capped at 3% in a single phase and must be supported by the RTB decision and the calculation for that tenant. The accompanying RTB-53-P1D is the matching calculation sheet; serve the forms together.
Common mistakes
Assuming an RTB application is the same as approval, serving only the notice, miscalculating the authorized remainder, using a phase before the prior phase has been properly imposed, overlooking the three full months' notice, or treating the annual percentage allowance as the separate capital-expenditure percentage.
How this phase differs from the other RTB-53 forms
Phase 1 is the first notice, not the application for approval.
Before issuing a Phase 1 capital-expenditure rent-increase notice, the landlord must already have received RTB approval for an eligible additional increase. Applying under RTB-52 does not by itself authorize the increase.
This is the Phase 1 notice that tells a tenant an approved additional increase is being implemented. The landlord must complete and serve the accompanying RTB-53-P1D details. The two documents work together: one is the notice; the other sets out the calculation.
Check the effective date, dollar amount, relevant notice period and the amount authorized by the RTB decision. Do not confuse the special capital-expenditure amount with the ordinary annual rent increase.
For the authoritative phase-by-phase process, see the BC government guidance on eligible capital-expenditure rent increases.