What is a rental agreement?
The rental agreement, often referred to as the lease, is a document that describes the location, length of the tenancy, amount of the rent, and the responsibilities of the parties involved.
In some provinces, it is mandatory to complete and sign a written rental agreement, while in other provinces, an oral agreement is fine. A lease is actually just one type of rental agreement and is usually binding both parties to a certain time limit, such as six months or a year. During that time, there can be no changes to the agreement unless both parties agree. For instance, the tenant must pay the rent every month for the agreed term, and the landlord cannot increase the rent during that time.
What types of tenants are there?
Although there are similarities between provinces, there are also some differences, in the types of tenancy and the rights that go along with them. Be sure to check the Residential Tenancy Act in your province.
In BC, for instance, according to the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre there are 3 main types of roommate situations: co-tenants, occupants, and tenants in common.
Co-tenants
This is the most common arrangement. Co-tenants are two (or more) roommates sharing one lease agreement. Both tenants are equally responsible for paying the rent, as well as making any necessary repairs if they cause damage to the premises.
How the costs such as tenant insurance, utilities, and cable, are divided up and would be decided by the tenants themselves, hopefully in a signed Roommates Agreement. If one of the co-tenants wants to move out, they can provide notice, in writing, to the landlord.
If just one of several co-tenants move out, that would typically end the lease agreement with the landlord and require the remaining tenants to sign a new one. This can be avoided by finding a new roommate to replace the departing one.
If you’re the tenant moving out in this scenario, make sure you notify the landlord as required. Co-tenants are jointly liable for the rent, which includes you until you go through the proper process of moving out.
Tenants in Common
Tenants in common are two (or more) roommates each have their own individual rental agreements in place with the landlord. When it comes to paying rent, each roommate pays the landlord the individual amount owed.
If one roommate moves out or defaults on their payment, the other roommate is not affected. It is also possible that both tenants are named on the same rental agreement, but are considered Tenants in Common, as long as the agreement specifies the amount of rent each must pay.
Occupants
An occupant is someone who is not named on the rental agreement but is renting part of the accommodation from the tenant, rather than the landlord.
Occupants don’t have rights under the law the same way tenants do. If the tenant throws the occupant out and changes the locks, the occupant has little or no recourse.
Anyone living as an occupant would be well served by working with the tenant and their landlord to be added as a tenant to the lease agreement. Otherwise, if there is any kind of dispute, you would have to seek legal advice outside of the Residential Tenancy Act.
