rental-property landlord tenant evidence british-columbia
Can forwarding address be provided by e-mail for landlord to return security deposit?
<p>If a landlord does not return a tenant's damage deposit in 15 days from the later of the move out date or receiving a forwarding address, tenant may go after him for double. If the forwarding address for mail is provided in e-mail or by a messaging app (such as Whatsapp, which has read receipts) is this enough? Or must the tenant use registered mail and then wait 15 days?</p>
<p>Relevant Sections of the tenancy Act:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section38" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section38</a><br />
<a href="https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section88" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section88</a></p>

<p>§88 gives an exhaustive list of legal ways to deliver the written notice. Each and every one of them involves delivery of a physical piece of paper, including fax transmission to a number provided by a recipient. Apart from direct hand-over, ordinary mail is acceptable so registered mail is not required. Email and phone-based messaging do not constitute legal notice having been given.</p>
