Start here: Landlord and tenant maintenance responsibilities depend on the Residential Tenancy Act, the tenancy agreement and circumstances. The RTB can resolve certain repair-related disputes and make appropriate orders.
When repairs become emergencies
- Emergency repairs are a narrow category: they must be urgent, necessary for health, safety or property, and involve qualifying systems such as major leaks, plumbing, primary heat, entry locks or electrical systems.
- Before arranging emergency repairs yourself, follow the statutory notice and contact steps, including attempts to reach the designated emergency number and allowing reasonable time to respond.
- For non-emergency issues, keep written requests and evidence. Do not assume that a maintenance dispute allows ordinary rent to be withheld.
What to check first
Record the problem, dates of written notice, photographs, contractor communications and effects on use of the unit.
Next steps
If a serious safety or emergency situation exists, review the official emergency-repair process before assuming you may deduct costs from rent.
Important exception or mistake
Withholding rent without legal authority can create a separate eviction risk.
Keep for your records
Keep the original notice or agreement, messages with dates, payment records, proof of delivery and any hearing confirmation. The rules can differ depending on the request and how the papers were delivered.