Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby, British Columbia landlord software
For a Burnaby rental, a renovation and a business-licence application can involve different City processes. Check both before assuming a newly finished suite is ready for its first tenancy.
RentMouse keeps leases, rent, maintenance, documents and tenant communication for your Burnaby rentals in one workspace, with lease guidance linked to British Columbia jurisdiction records. Review the applicable sources before relying on a draft.
Start free · British Columbia rules and sources
Renting in Burnaby
Burnaby includes residential rentals in its business-licence requirements. The City also says that adding a new principal or secondary-suite unit to an existing residential property requires a new building permit; that work cannot simply be added as a revision to an existing permit.
Check the status of work at the address
The City’s business-licence guidance advises checking with the building department about active or open permits before applying. Use the actual property details when making that enquiry, and retain the answer with the relevant permit number. A contractor saying the work is finished is different from the City record showing its status.
Separate the renovation list from tenant repairs
During preparation, keep a list of remaining construction items and who must resolve them. Once the tenancy begins, record new repair reports against the occupied unit. This prevents an unfinished renovation item from disappearing into a general conversation about the tenant’s maintenance request.
Make the first month traceable
Check the signed lease dates and rent amount when setting up the unit in RentMouse. If the first invoice covers a different period from later invoices, describe that period clearly and check the agreement before entering the charge. Record payments actually received with their references so the opening balance can be explained without consulting the renovation budget.
Local sources
Checked 2026-09-07. Confirm the current requirements for your address with the responsible authority.
British Columbia rules that apply in Burnaby
- Security deposit limit
- Half a month's rent; plus a pet damage deposit of up to half a month's rent
- Deposit return / claim rule
- Within 15 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant provides a written forwarding address, return the deposit plus interest, obtain the tenant’s agreement, or apply for dispute resolution.
- Deposit interest
- Required; rate set annually by regulation (0% for 2026, 0.95% for 2025)
- Notice before entry
- 24 hours' to 30 days' written notice; entry between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- Ending a month-to-month
- Tenant 1 full month before rent is due; landlord's notice varies by cause
- Notice before a rent increase
- 3 full months' written notice; once every 12 months
- Late fees
- Allowed only if stated in the agreement; maximum $25
- Rent control
- Yes; maximum increase 2.2% for 2027 (2.3% for 2026), effective January 1, 2027
General information from British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act, last reviewed 2026-09-29; not legal advice. Municipal bylaws can add requirements. Sources are listed on the British Columbia guide.
What RentMouse does for Burnaby landlords
- Properties & units — Each building and suite in one portfolio view, with occupancy, unit details and photos.
- Tenants & leases — Tenant records and lease terms attached to the right unit, with renewals surfaced before they arrive.
- Rent tracking — Monthly invoices, recorded payments, balances, overdue flags and reminders. Tenants keep paying you the way they already do.
- Maintenance — Requests with photos, priorities, vendors, dates and costs linked to the unit.
- Documents & e-signing — Jurisdiction-aware lease drafts from guided templates, sent for electronic signature and filed with the tenancy.
- Tenant portal — Optional, free for tenants: their tenancy details, invoices, shared documents and maintenance requests.
- Landlord website — A branded page at rentmouse.com/your-business that advertises vacant units, collects rental inquiries and doubles as the tenant sign-in.