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AllowedResidential Tenancy Branch (British Columbia)·

Tenant Wins Double Security Deposit and Filing Fee Recovery

Case No. AnonDec-301476

📌 In brief

In this case, the Tenant won a monetary award for double their security deposit plus interest and recovery of filing fees from the Landlord. The decision was based on the Landlord's failure to return the deposit within 15 days as required by law.

⚖️ Legal holding

Under the Tenancy Act, a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit within 15 days of receiving the tenant's forwarding address or the end of the tenancy, failing which the landlord must pay double the deposit amount.

Topics

security depositstenant rights

Provisions

Residential Tenancy Act (BC), s. 38Residential Tenancy Act (BC), s. 67Residential Tenancy Act (BC), s. 72

📖 Technical summary

Tenant successfully recovered double the security deposit plus interest due to landlord's failure to return the deposit within the stipulated time frame.

📚 Full judgment

The summary, holding and questions above are VadeLab’s own material. The official decision itself is published by the court, and we do not reproduce it on this page.

⚖️ View on the official court website ↗

📊 How courts decide similar cases

Among 12 similar decisions in this collection:

Allowed12 cases

A snapshot of this collection — not a prediction of your case's outcome.

⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this

✅ Tends to be accepted

  • The landlord did not return the security deposit within 15 days of the tenancy ending or receiving a forwarding address.
  • The landlord did not file a claim to keep the security deposit within 15 days.
  • The landlord did not return the pet damage deposit or make a claim against it.
  • The tenant did not pay the rent and utilities they agreed to.

Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Who was involved?

A Tenant and a Landlord were involved in this dispute over a security deposit.

How did the court decide, and why?

The Court decided in favour of the Tenant because the Landlord failed to return the security deposit within 15 days as required by law.

Which laws or rules were applied?

Sections 38(6), 67, and 72 of the Residential Tenancy Act (BC) were applied in this case.

What was the argument that mattered most?

The Tenant's argument that the Landlord failed to return the security deposit within the required timeframe under section 38(6).

Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?

The decision was in favour of the Tenant.

What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?

Someone in a similar situation can claim double their security deposit plus interest if the landlord fails to return it within 15 days.

What evidence or documents mattered?

The tenancy agreement, e-transfer receipts, and proof of service of the forwarding address were key pieces of evidence.

Can a decision like this be appealed?

Yes, decisions from the Residential Tenancy Branch can typically be appealed to the Provincial Court of British Columbia (Small Claims Court).

Is it worth getting a lawyer for a case like this?

It is always recommended to seek advice from a qualified lawyer for specific legal issues.

Official source: Residential Tenancy Branch (British Columbia) — this page does not reproduce the decision; it links to the court's own publication. View on the official source ↗Summary, holding, technical summary and questions: produced by Artificial Intelligence based on the official headnote and judgment. These are VadeLab’s own material and are not the work of the Court.This decision was issued by the Residential Tenancy Branch (British Columbia) (© Province of British Columbia). VadeLab reproduces no part of the decision text; the summary above is VadeLab's own material. VadeLab is not affiliated with, and this page is not endorsed by, that court or tribunal.