canada residential-lease landlord tenant british-columbia
Can a landlord enter common rooms, in a house that is leased individually room by room, without notice?
<p>I live in a large house shared with several roommates. We each have our own lease with the landlord. The landlord has been letting himself into the house frequently with no explanation. I was under the impression this was illegal, but am not sure considering the landlord only enters common areas such as hallways and the kitchen (though these are still within the confines of the house).</p>
<p>I found the information <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/during-a-tenancy/landlord-s-access" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> saying</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A landlord may enter:</p>
<ul>
<li>Any common areas that are shared with others like hallways, courtyards and laundry facilities – no notice is required</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p>This seems to be talking more about apartment buildings with hallways anyone can walk through.</p>
<p>Without warning or reason, can the landlord knock on the door and be allowed in if whoever answers says it's okay?</p>

<p>The actual law in BC, the <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Residential Tenancy Act</a>, guaranteed a tenant's rights to the rental unit and the common areas, and restricts the landlord's <a href="http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01#section29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">right to enter the rental unit</a>. Common areas are distinct from the rental unit. A common areas is "any part of residential property the use of which is shared by tenants, or by a landlord and one or more tenants", and a rental unit is a "living accommodation rented or intended to be rented to a tenant". In this case, that would be the room. There is no restriction at all on landlord's access to common areas, and there is no requirement that landlord access to common areas be for specific purposes. Access to the rental unit, on the other hand, must be for a reasonable purpose.</p>

<p>I called an information officer and this was the answer I was given (taken from memory)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The landlord is allowed to enter common areas, such as the kitchen,
  without notice. However, they must have a valid reason. So for example
  they can't just hangout.</p>
</blockquote>
