Check your RTB-1 Rental Agreement, page 2 section 2 "Length of Tenancy"
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/DownloadAs...B97CE2EDC11F85
It really depends how you filled this out.
2)a) You selected month-to-month. Then the new landlord can only raise the rates by the standard set out by the government. I think this is between 2-4%/year. The only way to get you out is serve you 2 month notice that a family member is moving in. Get you kicked out and put a new tenant in. If they don't actually put a family member in, then they face some consequences for lying if caught.
2)b)i) When your lease ends at the predetermined date, then there is the option of going month-to-month or another fixed time (I'm not sure which party gets to decide). This is the least certain clause for me (as a landlord), since I do not know if I must re-new the lease if the tenant wants, or what I am allowed to do with the rate. I interpret it as in the lease ends, then we renegotiate either month-to-month or a fixed lease at whatever rate I want. If the tenant agrees, then great. If they don't agree, then they move out.
One can also interpret it that if it converts to month to month, then the same lease terms remain and the landlord must abide by the max raise set out by the government. If it converts to another fixed lease, then the lease remains at the same terms for a repeat of the same time length. I am also not sure if it is the tenant who decides which route (m-t-m or fixed), or the landlord.
I never use this clause because I am not sure which interpretation is correct. If you checked this box, I would recommend checking what it really means with the Residential Tenancy Board
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page...274E030254B3DD
2)b)ii) I always use this clause, because it is the most advantageous to me, as a landlord. I verbally tell the tenant at the start of the lease that I have no intention of having them move out at the end of the first lease. I let them know that if I am happy with them, then I will gladly enter a new lease when the first lease is up. But at the end of the day, this clause gives me ultimate power. I have freedom of raising the second lease with the same tenant to what ever rate I want. Also, if I decide to sell or things in my life change and I need them out, I know exactly what day I have the power to get them out. If you checked this box, then the landlord can raise the rate to whatever they want for the second lease. If you don't like it, then you are SOL since you initialed that box.
c) I assume you didn't check this clause.
Option 2)a) is most advantageous to tenants. They can stay as long as they want (assuming they pay on time and aren't destructive) and know that their rent can only change by a 2-4% amount each year.
Option 2)b)ii) is best for landlords. Since I pretty much have no recourse if a tenant leaves, a fixed time length doesn't add value to me anyways. Sure, I can try to sue (if they even have any money at all), but the cost/time of that isn't worth the few months they exit early by. What I like about this clause is that when the lease is up; I either kick them out if I don't like them or renew the lease at my terms. If they don't like it, I put someone else in. It's super clear and they can't argue with me about it.
So far I have picked really good tenants and have been merciful. If I do raise the rate after the first lease, it is usually within the 2-4% anyways just to keep up with strata fee increases.