Free · No signup · Updated July 2026
Free British Columbia Rental Application Form - Fill Online, Sign & Download the PDF
British Columbia bans rental application and screening fees outright, and it caps both the security deposit and any pet damage deposit at half of one month's rent each. Deposits also come back fast, because a landlord who misses the 15-day return deadline owes you double. Fill it out below with plain-English help on every field, then sign and download your completed PDF free.
- ✓ Field-by-field help
- ✓ Sign electronically
- ✓ Instant PDF download
- ✓ Nothing stored on our servers
British Columbia rental application rules to know
- •A BC landlord cannot charge you any fee to accept your application, process it, check your suitability, or accept you as a tenant (Residential Tenancy Act s. 15). An 'application fee' is illegal even if the landlord offers to credit it toward your deposit later.
- •Your security deposit is capped at one half of one month's rent, and if the landlord agrees to pets, the pet damage deposit is a separate one half of one month's rent (RTA s. 19 and s. 20). Only one pet damage deposit is allowed no matter how many pets you have.
- •Once you give a forwarding address in writing, the landlord has 15 days to either return your deposit or file for dispute resolution to keep it (RTA s. 38). Miss that deadline and the landlord must pay you double the deposit.
- •BC requires a written condition inspection report at both move-in and move-out (RTA s. 23 and s. 35). If the landlord does not offer the move-in inspection, their right to claim your deposit for damage is extinguished (RTA s. 24(2) and s. 36).
- •Under the BC Human Rights Code s. 10, a landlord cannot refuse you or set different terms because of your lawful source of income, including income assistance, disability assistance, Old Age Security or child benefits. What matters is whether your total income covers the rent, not where it comes from.
- •You can be asked for your Social Insurance Number, but you do not have to provide it. The federal Privacy Commissioner advises against sharing it, and a basic credit check needs only your name, date of birth and current address.
- •A criminal record is not a protected ground for tenancy in BC, because that protection applies only to employment, so a landlord is allowed to ask about it and you may choose how to respond.
- •For 2026 the maximum allowable rent increase is 2.3%, down from 3.0% in 2025. A landlord must use the official RTB notice form, give three full months of written notice, and can raise rent only once every 12 months.
Last reviewed 2026-07-16. General information, not legal advice.
Fill out your application online
One section at a time. Nothing you type leaves your browser; the PDF is generated on your device. Hover any ? for plain-English help.
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord in BC charge a rental application fee?
No. Section 15 of the Residential Tenancy Act bans any charge for accepting, processing or investigating your application or for accepting you as a tenant. This holds even if the landlord promises to return the money or apply it to your deposit. Our form is free to fill out and download.
How much can a BC landlord ask for as a deposit?
The security deposit cannot exceed one half of one month's rent. If pets are allowed, the landlord may also collect a pet damage deposit of up to another half month's rent, and only one pet damage deposit is permitted regardless of how many pets you have (RTA s. 19 and s. 20).
When do I get my security deposit back in BC?
The landlord has 15 days from the later of the tenancy ending or receiving your written forwarding address to return the deposit or apply for dispute resolution (RTA s. 38). If they do neither, they must pay you double the security deposit and pet damage deposit.
Do I have to give my Social Insurance Number on a rental application?
No. Landlords may ask, but a SIN is not required, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada advises against sharing it. A credit check can be run with just your name, date of birth and address, so you can offer those instead.
Can a BC landlord refuse me because I receive income or disability assistance?
No. Lawful source of income is a protected ground for tenancy under section 10 of the BC Human Rights Code. A landlord must look at whether your total income covers the rent, not whether it comes from employment, benefits or assistance.
How much can my rent go up in BC in 2026?
The 2026 provincial cap is 2.3%, down from 3.0% in 2025. Rent can be raised only once every 12 months, and the landlord must give three full months of written notice on the official Residential Tenancy Branch form.
More free landlord & tenant forms
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- General Canada form
- United States forms
For landlords: the tenant application form and the rental verification form.