My landlord is constantly harassing me not to have guests over. She’s also hinted at evicting me. Is there anything I can do?

Landlords are not allowed to harass their tenants. Harassment includes any inappropriate comments or actions that a person should know would be threatening or intimidating. Not every unpleasant remark would be considered harassment. But ongoing aggressive, rude, and unwarranted behaviour would cross the line. 

Also, tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of their living space. This includes the right to reasonable privacy and freedom from unreasonable disturbances. See this guideline from the Residential Tenancy Branch for more on your right to quiet enjoyment. 

It’s illegal for a landlord to harass a tenant with the intention of making their living situation so uncomfortable that they want to move out. 

Finally, if you suspect you’re being treated poorly based on some part of your identity, this could be discrimination. In this case, sexual harassment was considered a form of discrimination based on the tenant’s gender as a woman. See this guidance on discrimination in housing for more.

Steps you can take

Here are some steps you can take if you’re being harassed or intimidated by your landlord:

1. Prioritize your safety. The police don’t generally get involved in residential tenancy disputes. But you should contact them immediately if your landlord ever hurts you or threatens your physical safety.

2. Keep a record of the harassment. Include details such as dates, times, and the nature of the inappropriate behaviour.

3. Write a letter to your landlord. Tell them there’s a problem and you want it to stop. The Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre has a template letter you can use to complain about loss of quiet enjoyment. Describe your concerns, the incidents, and how it’s making you feel. You can also reference your rights under the law. (Generally, landlords can’t unreasonably restrict a tenant from having guests over.) Here are some tips for tenants when communicating with landlords.

4. Apply for dispute resolution. Your landlord has a legal obligation to change their behaviour. If they continue harassing or threatening to evict you, you have the option to apply for dispute resolution with the Residential Tenancy Branch. You can ask for an order to get the landlord to stop their inappropriate behaviour.

Who can help

If your efforts aren’t getting you anywhere, you can reach out to the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre. They have some options for one-on-one help. Here are the details.