Step-by-step in British Columbia
- 1Confirm you're past the 12-month lockout window. In British Columbia, you can only raise rent once every 12 months for the same tenant. Check your lease anniversary date.
- 2Calculate the legal maximum increase. British Columbia's annual guideline rent increase is set each year by the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) — Central Rentals pulls the current value automatically when you generate the notice.
- 3Serve the proper written notice. In British Columbia, use RTB-7 + RTB-12L Notice to End Tenancy. The notice must be served at least 3 months (90 days) before the rent change takes effect.
- 4Document delivery. Photograph the served notice or send it via tracked email with a read-receipt. Central Rentals timestamps every notice you send.
- 5Update your lease and rent collection schedule. If you collect rent via Central Rentals' Stripe-CAD integration, the new amount goes live automatically on the effective date — no manual sync.
Why this matters
Because the Residential Tenancy Act caps how often and by how much landlords can raise rent, ignoring the rule exposes you to Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) fines, rent rollbacks, and tenant counter-claims at hearing.
Frequently asked
Can I raise rent more than the guideline in British Columbia?
Sometimes. In British Columbia, above-guideline increases are allowed for substantial capital repairs or extraordinary cost increases — you must apply to Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) with documented proof. Central Rentals stores the receipts and generates the application bundle for you.
What happens if my tenant refuses the increase?
They can dispute it at the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). If your notice was served correctly with RTB-7 + RTB-12L Notice to End Tenancy, the dispute almost always resolves in the landlord's favour. Central Rentals retains the audit trail of every served notice.
Does Central Rentals automatically apply the new guideline each year?
Yes. The Smart Rent Increase tool pulls the current-year guideline for British Columbia and pre-populates RTB-7 + RTB-12L Notice to End Tenancy — you just review and send.
Stop guessing — let Mark handle it
Central Rentals automates every step above for British Columbia landlords. Generate the right notice, calculate the legal cap, file with Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB), and export to CRA — all in one place.