An Abbotsford man is concerned about an alternative rent-paying method being used by his building’s management company in response to the ongoing postal strike.
Trevor Assman rents an apartment in a building whose landlord – a Vancouver-based management company – issued a notice to tenants of all its 22 locations last month, saying rent must be paid through a third-party web-portal service starting Dec. 1.
Assman said the site is difficult to navigate and set up an account.
He said he has no problem with that being an alternative form of payment, but he objects to the management company saying it is the only method that can be used at this time.
“I am not highlighting this (issue) for myself, but for all the people who live in the buildings … who are seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants, refugees who are computer illiterate, don’t have computers or access to the internet or have smartphones,” he said.
“… If they don’t understand how to set an account up and pay through this web portal, they may miss their rent due date and face eviction.”
Assman contacted the provincial Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) to confirm whether a landlord can accept only one form of rent payment.
The response he received from the agency stated there is nothing in the Residential Tenancy Act that requires a tenant to pay in a specific way.
A landlord cannot require a specific type of payment unless it is outlined in the tenancy agreement, Assman was told.
The RTB also said landlords must accept cash payments, but it is recommended that the tenant bring a witness and ensure they receive a receipt.
Assman was told that landlords should not be refusing “reasonable payment methods.”
He said he is concerned other management companies might be doing the same thing during the postal strike.
“This a horrible landlord business practice that could impact thousands of their vulnerable tenants,” he said.
The Abbotsford News has reached out to the management company for comment. The story will be updated when/if they respond.
