What BC law requires landlords to disclose
The BC Residential Tenancy Act does not contain a specific provision requiring landlords to disclose prior pest infestation history before or at the start of a tenancy. This contrasts with some US jurisdictions that mandate bed bug history disclosure. In BC, the disclosure obligations that do exist relate to: conditions the landlord knows about that affect the health and safety of occupants (a general RTA principle, not a specific disclosure statute); the condition inspection report at move-in (which documents current condition, not history); and material representations made in rental listings (misrepresentation may create liability under general contract law and tort law).
Where misrepresentation creates liability
While landlords have no explicit prior-infestation disclosure obligation, active misrepresentation creates liability. If a landlord tells a prospective tenant 'the unit has no pest history' or 'we've never had issues in this building' knowing this is false, and the tenant relies on that statement in entering the tenancy, the tenant has a misrepresentation claim. This can support: a claim for damages (remediation costs, temporary accommodation, moving costs) through Small Claims Court; an RTB remedy for the breach of the tenancy relationship; and in egregious cases, grounds for ending the tenancy without standard notice. The key is that the landlord made a specific false statement, not merely that they failed to volunteer information.
The condition inspection as the primary protection
Because disclosure law is thin, the move-in condition inspection is the tenant's primary protection. A thorough inspection — documented with dated photos, covering all cupboards, under-sink areas, behind appliances, bedroom baseboards, and any storage spaces — creates an evidence baseline. If pest evidence exists at move-in (droppings, gnaw marks, evidence of prior treatment like old bait stations), document it and note it on the condition report. This: (1) establishes the pre-tenancy pest history empirically; (2) requires the landlord to acknowledge the condition in writing; and (3) puts the landlord on notice that you are aware of prior pest activity, which may trigger their Section 32 obligation to address it proactively.
Practical pre-tenancy due diligence
- Ask the landlord directly, in writing (email): 'Has this unit had any pest infestation in the past 2 years? Has the building had any building-wide pest treatment in the past 2 years?' A written response that is false creates liability.
- Ask building management or the strata council (for strata buildings) about building pest history. This is particularly important for bed bug and cockroach history in multi-unit buildings.
- Search BC Court Services Online for any RTB decisions involving the property address or landlord name.
- Talk to current or former tenants in the building — social media neighbourhood groups can surface pest history for specific buildings.
- Request a professional pest inspection of the unit before signing — this is uncommon but reasonable for long-term tenancies in older buildings.
What about strata buildings: Form B
In BC strata buildings, the Information Certificate (Form B) must be provided to prospective purchasers, and may include information about known defects, including pest history. If you are renting a unit in a strata building and want pest history, ask your prospective landlord to share the Form B or request a recent strata meeting minutes extract. Strata council meeting minutes routinely reference pest treatment decisions and resolutions — they are an accurate record of building pest history that cannot be easily concealed.