Give the individual two to five days to fix the issue. Explain to the tenant that they must settle the debt immediately or face legal actions that may result in their eviction. As this is a final demand for payment, you can use strongly worded terms but write professionally and impersonally (don’t insult the tenant). It’s important because, if this final demand is ignored, you can take steps to have the tenant evicted. This is where you prove you have given the individual plenty of opportunities and done as much as you can to help them. This includes phone calls, emails, and letters to your tenant designed to remind them to pay or give them a deadline to pay. Next, clearly state the dates of any previous attempts to resolve the rent arrears. Include the exact amount of rent owed, the date the rent was supposed to be paid, and by what date it must now be paid (before legal action is taken). Do this no matter how many times you have already stated the information in previous letters or messages. These are the most important details and must be very clear. Start by stating the basic facts of your dispute.
Also, keep in mind that buildings with electrical heating will have much higher hydro bills. When you are searching for rental housing, it is important to find out how much you will have to pay for utilities. If you have bad credit, or have never had an account before, you may be required to pay a deposit to the utility company, on top of an installation/activation fee. If you are required to have utilities in your name, you will be responsible for contacting the utility company and setting up an account. Your landlord can require that the utility bill for your rental unit be put directly in your name, or they can require you to pay for the bill that is in their name. If the utility bill is in your landlord’s name, you can ask to see a copy of the bill when you are required to pay it.
See section 47 of the Residential Tenancy Act and Policy Guideline 38 for more information. If you repeatedly pay your rent late – the general rule is least three times within a 12-month period – your landlord can evict you for “cause”, using a One Month Notice. This five-day grace period for unpaid rent is an important legal protection for tenants, but it is not something that can be relied on every month.
Once you have received a 10 Day Notice, you have only five days to cancel the notice by paying the full rent. This is the most serious type of eviction notice and must be dealt with immediately if you want to save your housing. If you are late by even one day, or short by any amount of money, your landlord has the right to give you a 10 Day Eviction Notice for Non-Payment of Rent. Tenants are required to pay rent on the date it is due – usually the 1st of the month.