My financial situation isn’t stable right now. If I lose my job, I’m worried I won’t be able to pay rent on time. Is there anything I can do to avoid eviction?

In BC, your landlord can issue an eviction notice if you don’t pay rent on time. "On time" means by midnight on the day it’s due. The rules are very strict — even if you’re a day late or a dollar short, a landlord can issue you a 10-day eviction notice.

If you get this type of notice, you only have five days to pay the rent in full or to dispute the notice. If you fail to do either of these things, then the tenancy is over. Pay attention to these timelines — there’s not much room for delay or error.

Of course, you can always ask your landlord for a grace period beyond the strict timelines required by the law. If you’re worried about missing an upcoming rent payment, tell your landlord asap. Give them as much notice as possible. They may appreciate the heads up. Ask for an alternative arrangement for the upcoming month. It’s best to do this in writing. Here's a template letter you can use to inform your landlord you might be late on rent. 

Remember, your landlord isn’t legally obliged to accept late payment of rent. But they may see it as a hassle to go through the dispute resolution process or to find a new tenant. In other words, they may prefer to work with you to find a solution than to follow through on an eviction.

You can also try to find a way to make up the anticipated shortfall. This might mean asking friends or family, or applying for a loan from one of BC’s Rent Banks. Depending on where you are in the process, you could also try to apply for a crisis supplement through the BC government. 

Even if you manage to avoid eviction once, don’t make late payment a regular habit. If you make three late payments within a year, your landlord can give you an eviction notice for cause. So make sure a late rental payment doesn’t happen by mistake! Consider setting up automatic payments with your bank or a recurring calendar reminder to pay rent. As well, stay on top of rental payments if you’re ever away from home.