Can a landlord require payment of a security deposit or pet deposit?
In residential tenancies, landlords may ask the tenant to pay a security deposit or pet deposit when they enter into a tenancy agreement. The tenancy agreement must not provide that the landlord automatically keeps all or part of the deposit(s) at the end of the tenancy. With the written consent of the tenant and having complied with condition inspection requirements, or with a dispute resolution officer’s order, the landlord may keep all or part of the security deposit to cover any damage the tenant does to the rental unit beyond normal wear and tear, or any costs related to the tenancy. The deposit may be used against any outstanding dispute resolution officer’s order. If a landlord is entitled to keep all or part of a pet deposit, the deposit may be used only for damage caused by the pet unless the tenant agrees otherwise. In manufactured home park tenancies, a landlord may not require a tenant to pay a security deposit or pet deposit.
