A BC condition inspection report should create the same dated record for both sides at move-in and move-out: the unit, rooms and features, observed condition, repairs or disagreements, signatures, and a copy. The report supports a deposit and repair record, but it does not by itself decide responsibility, reasonable wear and tear, or the outcome of an RTB dispute.
Decision points
- 01
Inspect together where the statutory process calls for it, and make sure the report identifies the exact rental unit and date.
- 02
Describe condition rather than using vague labels; attach dated photos as supporting evidence, not as a replacement for the report.
- 03
Compare move-out to the signed move-in record before anyone assumes a repair cost or deposit result.
Use the report as a shared starting point
The Province describes a move-in condition inspection as a walk-through where the landlord and tenant document damages or concerns together. The RTB offers Form RTB-27, although a landlord may use another form if it meets the required content. Begin with the legal names, rental-unit address, key date, landlord's address for service, inspection date, and the actual rooms and features inspected.
Record what is observable
Work room by room and identify floors, walls, windows and coverings, appliances, fixtures, doors, locks, parking or storage where relevant, and visible existing damage or maintenance needs. Concrete descriptions are more useful than a score alone: identify location, material, approximate size, and whether a repair is needed. Ask for any disagreement to be recorded on the report rather than relying on a later text message.
Treat signing and copies as an operational step
The Act requires both landlord and tenant to sign the condition inspection report and requires the landlord to give the tenant a copy in the prescribed process. The Province's guidance tells tenants to request their completed copy. If an inspection is missed, declined, incomplete, or done after a new tenant has moved in, do not infer a deposit result from this page; check the Act and RTB process for the consequences of the actual sequence.
Run the same method at move-out
At the end of the tenancy, compare the unit with the move-in report, newer repair records, and current photos. The Act requires the landlord to offer the tenant at least two opportunities for the end-of-tenancy inspection in the prescribed circumstances. Distinguish ordinary wear and tear from an asserted damage claim; the report is evidence, not a permission to deduct money automatically.
Keep repair, access, and deposit questions separate
A maintenance issue may be a repair question, an entry may require proper notice, and a deposit claim has its own timing and authorization rules. Preserve the condition record across all three questions, but take the next step from the right source: the tenancy agreement, RTB form and guidance, insurer, contractor, or dispute-resolution process as applicable.
Common questions, answered directly
Is a condition inspection report required in BC?
The Residential Tenancy Act sets out condition-inspection and report requirements at the start and end of a tenancy. The exact consequences of a missed or incomplete step depend on who complied with the required opportunities and report process.
Can photos replace a BC condition inspection report?
Photos can support a record, but they do not automatically replace the statutory inspection and report process. Use both a completed report and dated supporting evidence.
What if a tenant disagrees with the condition report?
The Province's form guidance includes a way to record disagreement about the description of condition. Put the disagreement and its reason into the record, preserve evidence, and use current RTB information for a dispute.
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