How To Not Lose
at
BC's RTB Dispute-Resolution Hearings
with
Superior Written & Video Evidence Presentations

I won/assisted in more than ten successful Residential Tenancy Branch Dispute Resolution disputes and reviews. This is what I did: (Don't ask 'why' - explanations will take too long.)
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Had hard evidence in the form of email, recorded phone calls, FOI government documents, a Title Search, or text screen shots or videos.
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Did not use the online application form. File in person with your paperwork in hand.
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Used additional sheets for text. e.g, wrote, “See attached pages 1 through 7”
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My adverse party filed paperwork. Therefore, I provided written “submission” replies in the form of a spreadsheet or “Word table” in landscape format, quoting facts and legal precedents (also called “authorities”, with page and paragraph references.) ï‚· Did not use the optional Monetary Order Form.
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Uploaded evidence in video form, with annotations.
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Always used Registered Mail. Never relied on personal service of documents.
SEE WHAT I'VE WON, SO FAR:
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Got the landlord's 2-month eviction and 1-month eviction notices cancelled. RTB files #866984, #31022471, #31021367, #31021691
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Rent reduced by $105/month #866987
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Rent reduced by another $457/month #31027213
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Damages in the form of one months' rent, $1,257 in my favour. #31027213
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Arbitrator put landlord on notice for sec.95 Administrative Penalties ($5K/day) #31027213 pg. 5: “As a note, the Landlord is now on notice that continued noncompliance with the Act may result in Administrative Penalties being recommended”
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Being nominated to Guinness World Records as the winning-est renter
WHO NEEDS HELP, IN MY OPINION, AND WHY:
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Renters or landlords lacking photo-image cropping, video-making, skills and resources.
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Renters or landlords may need to “capture” better evidence, e.g. phone calls
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Renters or landlords with video may over 16MB and inexplicably fail to upload to the RTB's Dispute Access website
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Renters or landlords lacking experience in searching prior RTB decisions, arbitrators' reviews, or BC Supreme Court judgments.
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Renters or landlords might lose key evidence before getting to upload it.
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Renters or landlords may not realize that Aggravated Damages are available under the Residential Tenancy Act and its Regulations.
My own experience with British Columbia's RTB proceedings:
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The BC Residential Tenancy Branch's intake system is much more efficient, and accessible, than the BC Small Claims Court process.
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The arbitrators usually write-up just (righteous) decisions and reviews.
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The RTB answers emails efficiently.
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I learned an awful lot of real-world information by talking to Metro Vancouver landlords and tenants, who were standing in the hallway before RTB offices opened.
About Me:
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I was once a landlord (with 12 units, and member of the Western New York Real Estate Investors Association); a former paralegal. I never provide legal advice. I rely on the “Law of Gratitude” everyday.
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My cell phone: (778) 697-nine-five-six-seven
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My email (I only check weekly): style + r + free + domm - last “m” @ ”gee-mail” dot com
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I am a retired paralegal (a "pit bull" according to a legal magazine) who wants to assist a tenant or landlord. Why? I also earn good karma, Law of Gratitude "points", whenever I help someone.
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What I can tell you - not legal advice - there are fuzzy kinks in the RTB dispute resolution procedure, and forms, which trip up careless applicants.
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Good news for tenants: There are a handful of renters who actually got their landlords to pay e.g. for loss of quiet enjoyment .. search the RTB decisions database.
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N.B. I am allergic to "complaints". Why? Because complaints are contrary to the Universal Law of Attraction/Abraham Hicks.
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If you're contacting me for help, please describe your problem with document dates, especially if you were served with an Eviction Notice (there are tight deadlines for filing.)
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Disclosure. I once owned rental properties and am a former member of Western New York Real Estate Investors Assn.
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MY OPINION ABOUT British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act. This statute and its regulations and guidelines are very good. However, first-timers will likely miss the other relief available to tenants, so read the Act, regulations, and decisions. Use Canlii.org also. The dispute resolution process required hard evidence to win; I did't rely on verbal presentation. I won through hard work, video-editing software, a capable cell phone, like a Note4 running on the old, but reliable, Android 5.0.1.
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