Vancouver landlords fined $90,000 after dividing home into 21 rooms for 17 tenants
The Residential Tenancy Branch fined two Vancouver landlords after an inspection found a century-old home near Commercial Drive had been split into 21 rooms without permits.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on globalnews.ca.
Two Vancouver landlords have been fined $90,000 after splitting a single-family home near Commercial Drive into 21 rooms for at least 17 tenants, the Residential Tenancy Branch ruled following a city investigation, Global News reported on November 5.
A city property use inspector visited the century-old house in July 2025 and found it had been divided into 21 rooms. At least 17 tenants were living there. Multiple bathrooms and plumbing fixtures had been added without permits. The City of Vancouver issued an Order to Vacate in August 2025.
The Residential Tenancy Branch found the landlords did not maintain the property to the health, safety, and housing standards the law requires, and that they failed to complete urgent plumbing and electrical repairs. The Branch ordered them to pay $85,000 for the first violation and $5,000 for a second.
The City of Vancouver told Global News that a property use inspector found the home vacant earlier in 2026, and that no further enforcement actions were needed at that time.
What the new council said
Mayor Pete Fry told Global News that council is committed to tenant protections. "This is great work by our city inspectors to ensure that the standards of maintenance and occupancy are upheld," he said.
The case shows how the city's inspection system can reach properties that do not meet legal standards, even when no formal complaint from a tenant has been reported publicly.
About RTB fines
In British Columbia, the Residential Tenancy Branch can fine landlords who do not maintain their properties to health, safety, and housing standards. Fines go to the Province, not to the tenants who lived in the property.
Renters who believe their rental does not meet legal standards can file a complaint with the Residential Tenancy Branch or contact the City of Vancouver's property use inspection service.
What renters can do
Renters in Vancouver can report unsafe rental conditions to the Residential Tenancy Branch at gov.bc.ca/residentialtenancy. The City of Vancouver also accepts reports about properties that may not meet safety or maintenance standards. There is no deadline to report a concern.
Questions this story answers
How much were the Vancouver landlords fined?
The Residential Tenancy Branch ordered the landlords to pay $90,000 in total: $85,000 for failing to maintain the property to health, safety, and housing standards required by law, and a separate $5,000 penalty for a second violation. Global News reported the decision on November 5, 2026.
What did inspectors find at the Vancouver home?
A city property use inspector visited the century-old house near Commercial Drive in July 2025 and found it had been divided into 21 rooms with at least 17 tenants living there. Multiple bathrooms and plumbing fixtures had been added without permits. The City of Vancouver issued an Order to Vacate in August 2025.
Who fined the landlords and on what grounds?
The Residential Tenancy Branch investigated after the city's inspection and ordered the fines. It found the landlords did not maintain the property to the health, safety, and housing standards the law requires, and that they failed to complete urgent plumbing and electrical repairs.
Is the home still being rented out?
The City of Vancouver said a property use inspector found the home vacant earlier in 2026 and that no further enforcement actions were needed at that time, according to Global News. The tenants who lived there had already left.
What did Mayor Pete Fry say about the case?
Mayor Pete Fry told Global News that the new council is committed to tenant protections. He said: 'This is great work by our city inspectors to ensure that the standards of maintenance and occupancy are upheld.' His page on this site is at /candidates/pete-fry.
What is a residential tenancy fine in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, landlords who fail to maintain a rental property to legal health, safety, and housing standards can be fined by the Residential Tenancy Branch. The Branch can order a landlord to pay a penalty and may require them to make repairs or stop renting a property that is unsafe.
What is an Order to Vacate in Vancouver?
An Order to Vacate is a formal instruction from the City of Vancouver requiring a property to be emptied of occupants. The City can issue one when a building does not meet safety or housing standards. In this case the city issued the order in August 2025 after the July inspection.
What can renters do if they believe their landlord is violating housing standards?
Renters in Vancouver can file a complaint with the Residential Tenancy Branch at gov.bc.ca/residentialtenancy or call the branch to report conditions that do not meet health, safety, or housing standards. The City of Vancouver also accepts complaints about property use and maintenance.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Global News: Vancouver landlords fined $90Kglobalnews.ca
- Residential Tenancy Branch, BC Governmentwww2.gov.bc.ca
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