Rental Property Maintenance Checklist for Metro Vancouver Landlords
Protect your investment, meet your legal obligations, and retain quality tenants
Metro Vancouver landlords face some of Canada's most demanding obligations under the BC Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) — and the highest repair costs when maintenance is deferred. This checklist covers suite turnover, routine annual inspections, seasonal maintenance, and the legal obligations you need to document to protect yourself from disputes. Use it as a reference guide for every rental property in your portfolio.
🔑Suite Turnover (Between Tenants)
- Document suite condition thoroughly with timestamped photos before any cleaning or repairs
Critical for dispute resolution under the BC RTA — compare against move-in inspection report
- Complete move-out inspection with tenant present if possible
Required process under BC RTA for security deposit deductions
- Test all appliances — stove burners, oven, fridge, dishwasher, washer/dryer
- Check all plumbing fixtures for leaks, slow drains, and correct operation
- Test all GFCI outlets in kitchen, bathrooms, and exterior — press reset and test button
- Inspect caulking in tubs, showers, and around sinks — replace if cracked or mouldy
- Check grout in tiled areas for cracking or staining
- Inspect flooring for damage, wear, and loose transitions
- Check all door locks and deadbolts — rekey or replace hardware between tenants
Best practice — you don't know how many copies of the old key exist
- Replace smoke detector and CO detector batteries — test function
- Check window locks, screens, and weatherstripping
- Touch up or repaint walls as needed — assess full repaint if wear is significant
- Clean dryer vent — fire hazard if neglected
- Clean range hood filter
- Check under-sink areas for slow leaks or water damage
- Document all completed repairs and upgrades for your records
📋Annual Inspection (Occupied Units)
- Schedule inspection with proper written notice — BC RTA requires 24 hours written notice for entry
Non-compliance can result in tenant claims
- Test smoke and CO detectors — landlord is responsible for ensuring they function
- Inspect for signs of moisture, mould, or water damage
- Check bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans — clean if needed
- Inspect heating system — replace filters if applicable
- Check plumbing under all sinks for slow drips or water damage
- Inspect exterior caulking and weatherstripping
- Check gutters and downspouts if applicable
- Document condition with photos
🏡Seasonal Exterior Maintenance
- Spring: Inspect roof for winter damage — missing shingles, moss, damaged flashing
- Spring: Clean gutters and downspouts
- Spring: Check foundation perimeter for water pooling or cracking
- Fall: Clean gutters thoroughly before heavy rainfall season — Metro Vancouver's fall rains cause rapid gutter overflow and fascia damage
- Fall: Check and seal all exterior caulking before the wet season
- Fall: Drain and shut off exterior hose bibs
- Winter: Monitor for ice dam conditions after freeze/thaw cycles
⚖️BC RTA Obligations (Legal Checklist)
- Provide and maintain the rental unit in a state of health and safety — RTA s. 32
Failure to maintain is grounds for a Residential Tenancy Branch dispute
- Respond to urgent repair requests promptly — typically within 24 hours for safety issues
Urgent repairs include loss of heat, water, or security
- Address non-urgent repair requests within a reasonable timeframe — generally 2–4 weeks
- Document all repair requests and responses in writing
Text or email creates a paper trail — essential for RTB disputes
- Provide 24 hours written notice before entering the suite — except in emergencies
- Return security deposit within 15 days of tenancy end if no deductions, or provide written itemized deductions
- Use proper move-in and move-out condition inspection reports signed by both parties
- Ensure suite meets BC building code standards for heating — rental units must be heated to a minimum temperature
- Maintain functioning smoke and CO detectors throughout the tenancy
⚠️High-Risk Areas (Don't Ignore These)
- Dryer vent — lint buildup is a leading cause of residential fires; clean annually minimum
- Mould in bathrooms and basements — Metro Vancouver's humid climate makes this a constant risk in poorly ventilated suites
- Under-sink water damage — slow leaks under kitchen and bathroom sinks are often hidden for months in rental units
- Grout and caulking failure in showers — water infiltration behind tiles is expensive to remediate; maintain sealing proactively
- Blocked gutters — in Vancouver's heavy fall and winter rainfall, blocked gutters rapidly cause fascia rot and foundation issues
- Heating system neglect — furnace or heat pump failure in winter creates urgent repair obligations under the RTA
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