Landlords will face fines for breaching confidentiality

The province has announced plans to impose fines on landlords who breach the confidentiality of tenants who end their lease early due to domestic violence. Victims of domestic abuse have expressed their support for this measure, stating that penalties should be imposed on landlords who violate the law and endanger the victims. Currently, landlords are required to keep any information received from tenants regarding the termination of the tenancy confidential, but there are no penalties for landlords who breach this section of the Residential Tenancies Act.

The amendment to the act, introduced by the government, will allow the Residential Tenancies Branch to issue administrative penalties to landlords who violate tenant confidentiality. This comes after a young woman who experienced domestic violence was affected by a landlord who breached her confidentiality. The amendment increases the maximum administrative penalty from $5,000 to $10,000.