Can I charge for new fobs and move-in fees?
In BC most of the rental housing in today’s market is located within Strata Corporations. There are some fees associated within a Strata Corporation that affect a landlord can pass to the tenant. Every Strata Corporation will have a move-in fee for when a new person occupies the unit. Some buildings have a move in and move out fee to be charged each time a person comes or goes. Another common charge in Strata Corporations are the fob or access devices. Almost all buildings have a keyless system and use a fob to access the building. The fobs have a cost to purchase which is much more than a standard key for the building.
Landlords often ask who pays for these costs. Section 7 of The Residential Tenancy Regulations outlines allowable non-refundable fees that a Landlord may charge a tenant. The cost of the move-in fees and the costs to replace or purchase additional access devices are costs a landlord may have the tenant pay for. A key part of section 7 often miss understood is that the allowable costs are the “direct cost” for the new fob or the move-in fee. What this means is if the Strata Corporation charges the landlords a move-in fee of $100 that is the amount you charge the tenant. When Cartref Properties rents a property we often have the tenant pay directly to the Strata Corporation the move-in fee. This shows the tenant we are not overcharging the fee, and the strata are able to collect the funds directly upon move-in. With regards to the access devices, often landlords try to make money by selling the fob for a price higher than they paid for the item. The strata charge to the owner is $80 for a new fob and the Landlord charges the tenant $100. This is not allowed as the $100 is not the direct cost for the fob. If the tenant finds out they overpaid they may have a valid case to file with RTB to be refunded the overpayment. If your building doesn’t have a fob system and uses keys the direct cost factor also applies. Cutting a key is very minimal compared to a key fob, yet the direct cost factor still applies.
There are other costs included in section 7 in which landlords are allowed to charge tenants for including returned cheque fees incurred by your financial institution, late rent payment fees, and fees for services or utilities which are not included in the tenancy agreement.
When being a Landlord it is important to know your rights and obligations.
If you need assistance managing your rental property, Cartref Properties can assist you, call today to discuss your needs. You can find more information about us at: www.cartrefproperties.com
