Vancouver landlords fined $90,000 for housing 17 tenants in illegal sleeping rooms
B.C.'s tenancy enforcement unit imposed the penalties after City of Vancouver inspectors found 21 makeshift rooms in a single-family home zoned for residential use.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Five Vancouver landlords have been ordered to pay $90,000 in fines after City of Vancouver inspectors found 17 tenants living in a single-family home that had been divided into 21 makeshift sleeping rooms, CTV News reported on October 30.
B.C.'s Residential Tenancy Branch Compliance and Enforcement Unit issued the decision in July 2026. The provincial government published it on its website in October 2026.
What the inspectors found
City of Vancouver inspectors visited the property in July 2025. The enforcement decision says they identified 21 sleeping rooms spread across the main floor, attic, and basement of a pre-1930 house that is zoned for a single-family home.
The City documented concerns about unpermitted construction, fire safety equipment, plumbing, electrical systems, and the overall safety of the building for people to live in. Inspectors said the property needed extensive repairs to meet the required standards. The City issued an order for the property to be vacated in August 2025. The Residential Tenancy Branch began its investigation the same month.
The address of the property is redacted from the decision.
The violations and the fines
The Residential Tenancy Branch's director of compliance and enforcement ruled that three violations of B.C.'s Residential Tenancy Act had occurred.
The landlords had failed to maintain the property to the health and safety standards required by law. They had also failed to make urgent and necessary repairs to plumbing and electrical systems. One of the five landlords was found to have given false or misleading information at six RTB dispute resolution hearings.
CTV News reported that the director calculated the fine for the first violation at $5,000 per proven tenancy. With 17 proven tenancies, that amounted to $85,000. The second violation added $5,000. The total joint fine for all five landlords is $90,000, plus a $3,800 penalty for the landlord found to have given false information at the hearings.
None of the five landlords responded to the enforcement process, according to the decision.
Context
The decision names a company called Livewell Homestay and Cleaning Limited as the operator listed on tenancy documents. The RTB enforcement decision was issued in July 2026 and published online in October 2026. CTV News reported that the landlords were given until October 2, 2026 to pay their fines.
CTV News asked the provincial government whether payment had been made. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs said the government was in caretaker mode after the recent provincial election and could not comment on anything other than critical health and public safety information.
Vancouver renters who have concerns about health or safety conditions in their home can file a complaint with BC's Residential Tenancy Branch or contact the City of Vancouver's 311 service to request a property inspection.
Questions this story answers
What penalty did the Residential Tenancy Branch impose on the Vancouver landlords?
The Residential Tenancy Branch's Compliance and Enforcement Unit imposed a total fine of $90,000 on five landlords jointly, according to CTV News. The fine covered two violations: $85,000 for failing to maintain the property to health and safety standards (calculated at $5,000 per each of the 17 proven tenancies), and $5,000 for failing to make urgent and necessary repairs to plumbing and electrical systems. One landlord received an additional $3,800 penalty for providing false or misleading information at six dispute resolution hearings.
What did Vancouver city inspectors find at the property?
City of Vancouver inspectors visited the property in July 2025. The enforcement decision says they found 21 sleeping rooms and 17 tenants in a pre-1930 home zoned for a single-family dwelling. The property had been divided into rooms across the main floor, attic, and basement. Inspectors documented concerns about unpermitted construction, fire safety equipment, electrical and plumbing systems, and the overall safety of the property for people to live in, according to the decision as reported by CTV News.
Who owns the property and what company was involved?
CTV News reported that the decision names a company called Livewell Homestay and Cleaning Limited as the operator listed on tenancy documents. The decision also names four individual landlords. The property was purchased for $1,578,000 in April 2021, according to the enforcement decision. The address of the property is redacted from the published decision.
Did the landlords participate in the RTB investigation?
CTV News reported that all five landlords received proper notice of the allegations but did not respond or take part in the enforcement process. Scott McGregor, the RTB's director of compliance and enforcement, proceeded with his decision without their participation and ruled that three violations of the Residential Tenancy Act had occurred.
When did the City of Vancouver issue its order to vacate?
The City of Vancouver issued an order to vacate the property in August 2025, according to the enforcement decision reported by CTV News. The Residential Tenancy Branch began its investigation the same month, after the City informed it of the situation. The RTB decision was issued in July 2026 and published on the provincial government's website in October 2026.
What are the rules around rooming houses in Vancouver?
According to the enforcement decision reported by CTV News, the property at issue was zoned for a single-family home. The Residential Tenancy Branch's enforcement unit found no evidence that it had been approved for use as a rooming house or as multi-room sleeping accommodation for unrelated occupants. Vancouver has rules about what uses are permitted on a property based on its zoning. A property converted into many sleeping units without the proper permits or approvals is a violation of those rules.
What can Vancouver renters do if they have concerns about their property?
Vancouver renters who live in a property with health or safety problems, missing emergency repairs, or unpermitted construction can file a dispute with BC's Residential Tenancy Branch. The RTB's Compliance and Enforcement Unit can investigate and impose fines on landlords who fail to meet their obligations under the Residential Tenancy Act. Renters can also contact the City of Vancouver's 311 service to report a property that may not meet housing standards. The City's inspection staff can issue orders requiring owners to fix problems or vacate a building.
How does this relate to Vancouver's new council and housing plans?
Vancouver's newly elected council, which took office in the days after the October 17 vote, has identified housing as a top priority. The incoming council has pledged to work on rental housing protections and affordability. Enforcement actions by the provincial Residential Tenancy Branch, like the one described in this story, are separate from the City's own planning decisions. However, the City's inspectors played a role in this case by identifying the violations and notifying the RTB. Residents can follow the council's housing decisions at /candidates/pete-fry.
Sources
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