Tenant screening built for BC landlords.
BC caps what you can hold as a deposit and how much rent can rise each year, so getting the applicant right matters from day one. Verified identity, background and watchlist checks, and their Equifax credit, ready in minutes from $19.99.
What BC law actually says about renting out your place.
Every figure below is set by the province or its tribunal, not by us. Click through to the source.
The Residential Tenancy Branch
Tenancy disputes in BC go to the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) for mediation or arbitration, not the courts. The RTB and every landlord and tenant in the province operate under the Residential Tenancy Act.
Two separate deposit caps
A security deposit can't exceed 50% of one month's rent, and a pet damage deposit is capped at another 50% on top of that. Together, that's up to a full month's rent held, but no application fees of any kind are allowed, and the cap locks in at the rent when the tenancy starts, not what it becomes later.
2026 rent increase cap: 2.3%
BC re-sets its allowable rent increase every year in step with inflation; the cap for 2026 is 2.3%, down from 3% in 2025. Landlords must give at least 3 full months' written notice stating the exact new dollar amount and the effective date.
Eviction notice periods
Non-payment of rent gets a 10-day notice (the tenant then has 5 days to pay or dispute). Moving in yourself or a close family member requires 3 months' notice, and as of June 18, 2025, that notice must be generated through the RTB's own online portal, not handwritten. Demolition or major renovation requires 4 months plus compensation.
Lawful source of income
BC's Human Rights Code protects lawful source of income: you can't turn down an applicant because their income comes from disability assistance, income assistance, or another government benefit. The only legitimate question is whether their total income supports the rent.
BC Human Rights Coalition: Landlord rights & responsibilities
Landlord rules by province
Taking applications? Use our free BC rental application form, written to the privacy commissioner's guidance.
Vacancy is rising, rent is capped, so who you rent to counts more.
More units on the market means more applicants, and BC law limits what a bad match can cost you to recover from.
With vacancy climbing, a serious applicant has options, and so does someone who's counting on you not to check closely.
Your deposit cushion is capped and, since June 2025, even taking a unit back for personal use means routing the notice through the Residential Tenancy Branch's own online portal. Choosing well up front is still the point in the process where you're fully in control.
What a tenant background check actually covers.
Every check runs through Certn against official records, with credit data from Equifax Canada, so nothing rests on a document an applicant hands you.
Identity verification
Confirms your applicant is who they claim to be, using their government ID and a live check.
Adverse media check
Scans news articles, press releases, and other public sources for serious red flags.
Global watchlist screening
Checks your applicant against international fraud, sanctions, and criminal watchlists.
Equifax credit report
Essential planCredit score, debts, and payment history pulled straight from the bureau, not sent to you by the applicant.
Tamper-proof sharing: every report is sealed so it can't be edited or faked after the fact.
From applicant to verified report.
Three steps, a few minutes, no paperwork.
Send your applicant a screening link
No account or paperwork on your end. Share one link by text or email and your applicant takes it from there.
Your applicant verifies
They get a secure link, confirm their ID on their phone, and consent to the checks. Takes them a few minutes.
Your report arrives in minutes
A clear, tamper-proof report lands in your inbox, so you can offer the place with confidence.
One report. One price. No subscription.
Choose the package that fits, then pay once per screening.
With your deposit capped at one month's rent, knowing who you're handing the keys to matters even more.
Try us risk-free. If you're not satisfied with your Quickscreen report, we'll refund you up to $50.
Screening powered by Certn. Managing more than a few units? See tenant screening for property managers for volume pricing and team access.
Got questions?
Questions BC landlords actually ask
How much can I collect as a security deposit in BC?
Up to 50% of one month's rent as a security deposit, plus a separate pet damage deposit also capped at 50% of one month's rent if your tenant has a pet. Combined, that's up to a full month's rent, and no application fees of any kind are allowed on top of it. The cap is set against the rent when the tenancy starts, so it doesn't rise later if you increase rent.
How much notice do I need to raise the rent, and by how much in 2026?
You need to give at least 3 full months' written notice stating the exact new dollar amount and the effective date. The allowable increase is capped every year in step with inflation; for 2026 that cap is 2.3%, down from 3% in 2025, so it's worth rechecking each year rather than assuming a fixed number.
Can I evict a tenant because I'm moving into the unit myself?
Yes, with 3 months' written notice, and your tenant then has 21 days to dispute it. As of June 18, 2025, this personal-occupancy notice must be generated through the Residential Tenancy Branch's own online portal (form RTB-32L), so you can no longer just hand-write it.
Can I turn down an applicant whose income comes from disability or income assistance?
No. BC's Human Rights Code protects lawful source of income, so you can't reject someone because their income comes from disability assistance, income assistance, or another government benefit. The only legitimate question is whether their total income supports the rent.
What happens if my tenant stops paying rent?
You can issue a 10-day notice to end tenancy for unpaid rent. Your tenant then has 5 days to either pay what's owed in full or dispute the notice at the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Does my applicant have to consent to a credit check?
Yes. Consent is built into the flow: your applicant receives a secure link, confirms their identity themselves, and agrees to the checks before anything runs. BC specifically requires written consent before a credit check is pulled, and you can't charge an applicant for the credit-check or reference costs either way. You never need to collect or forward their documents.