RTB-7 Form BC: How to Complete the Rent Increase Notice
Why You Must Use Form RTB-7
Under Section 42 of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), a rent increase for a standard residential tenancy in BC is only valid if it's delivered on the prescribed provincial form. An informal letter, email, text message, or handwritten note — no matter how clearly it states the new rent — does not count.
The current version is Form RTB-7 (revised August 2024). Using an outdated version can give a tenant grounds to challenge the notice at the Residential Tenancy Branch.
RTB-7 covers all standard residential rental units: apartments, single-family homes, condos, secondary suites, and basement suites. Manufactured home site tenancies use different forms (RTB-45 or RTB-11a) under the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.
Where to Get the Current RTB-7
Download the fillable PDF from the official BC government forms page at www2.gov.bc.ca. Look for "Notice of Rent Increase – Residential Rental Units (RTB-7)." The form is free.
Before filling it out, confirm you're working with the August 2024 revision. The revision date appears in the bottom corner of the form.
How to Fill Out Each Section
Landlord and Tenant Names
Enter the full legal names of every landlord and every tenant on the tenancy agreement. Leaving a name off can create a procedural defect.
Rental Unit Address
The complete street address and unit number of the rental property. This must match the address on the tenancy agreement.
Current Rent and Increase Amount
Enter the current monthly rent as stated in the tenancy agreement. If utilities, parking, or storage are included in the rent, use the total bundled figure.
Calculate the increase: multiply the current rent by the applicable cap percentage (2.3% for increases effective in 2026, 2.2% for 2027). Round the dollar amount down — never up. A single cent of upward rounding invalidates the notice.
Enter the new total monthly rent (current rent plus the increase).
Date of Last Increase or Rent Established
This field establishes the 12-month clock. Enter whichever is more recent:
- The date the initial rent was first established at the start of the tenancy, or
- The date the last lawful rent increase took effect
Rent can only be increased once every 12 months. If the stated effective date is too early, Section 42(4) of the RTA moves it to the earliest date that complies.
Effective Date
The date the new rent starts. This must allow at least three full rental months after the tenant's deemed receipt of the notice. If the stated date is too early, Section 42(4) of the RTA moves it to the earliest date that complies. For most tenancies where rent is due on the 1st, the effective date will be the 1st of a month.
The cap that applies is determined by this date, not the date you serve the form.
Signature
The landlord or their authorized agent must sign and date the form. An unsigned notice is incomplete and unenforceable.
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Common Errors That Can Void or Delay the Notice
Wrong form version. Using a pre-2024 revision when the current one is available gives a tenant a challenge point.
Rounding up. $1,850.50 × 2.3% = $42.5615. Entering $42.57 instead of $42.56 is a statutory breach.
Insufficient notice period. Serving on January 1 for an April 1 effective date doesn't allow three full months — January isn't a "full" month because it's already started. The three full months would be February, March, April, so Section 42(4) moves the effective date to May 1.
Informal corrections. If you discover a material error in the amount or form after serving it, do not cross it out or send a correction letter; serve a corrected RTB-7 with enough lead time. A date that is only too early is adjusted under Section 42(4), rather than automatically voiding the notice.
Missing deemed delivery time. If you mail the form, add 5 days. If you fax it, post it on the door, place it in the mailbox, or email it to an address provided in writing for service, add 3 days. The clock starts from the deemed receipt date, not the day you sent it.
What Happens After You Serve RTB-7
Keep proof of service — a Canada Post tracking receipt, a witness statement for personal delivery, a fax confirmation, or a copy of the email with the written service-address record (often Form RTB-51) on file. If a tenant later disputes the notice at the RTB, the burden falls on you to prove it was properly served.
For the full process — from calculating the cap and counting three full months to deemed delivery and proof of service — the BC Rent Increases guide walks through every step with worked calendar examples.
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