Tenant rights

For a business that rents premises in BC, tenant rights are mainly the rights set out in its commercial lease, supplemented by the common law and a few statutes. Commercial tenants have no rent control or statutory eviction protection; their key protections are the lease terms they negotiate, quiet enjoyment, and relief from forfeiture if the landlord tries to terminate.

How BC law treats it

The Residential Tenancy Act does not apply to commercial premises, and the Residential Tenancy Branch has no jurisdiction over them. Commercial tenancies are governed by the lease, the common law, the Commercial Tenancy Act, RSBC 1996, c 57, the Rent Distress Act, RSBC 1996, c 403 and relief from forfeiture under the Law and Equity Act, RSBC 1996, c 253, with disputes going to court or arbitration.

What it means for your business

Your negotiated lease is effectively your full set of rights, so terms on renewal, assignment, repairs and termination matter a great deal.

Risks and common mistakes

Assuming residential tenancy protections apply to business premises can leave a tenant unprepared for a lease termination or distress for rent.

For the full explanation, see our entry on Commercial lease.

General information about British Columbia and Canadian law, current to October 2026. It is not legal advice.