Rental exemptions are available for homes occupied by tenants. To qualify for an exemption, the home must be occupied for at least six months of the year in increments of one month or longer. For 2018, tenants need to occupy for only three months in increments of one month or longer for the owner to qualify for this exemption.
Only one residence must be rented for the property to be exempt.
Arm’s-length rentals – All owners will be eligible for a rental exemption in respect of an arm’s-length tenant, so long as there is a written tenancy agreement in place under the Residential Tenancy Act and the tenant resides at the property.
An arm’s-length tenant is a business-only relationship: anyone other than a non-arm’s-length tenant.
Non-arm’s-length rental exemption – Owners who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, but not satellite families, will also be eligible for the rental exemption in respect of non-arm's length tenant so long as the residence is the tenant’s principal residence. Non-Canadians may be able to claim an exemption in respect of a non-arm’s length tenant in very limited circumstances.
Arm’s-length rentals – All owners will be eligible for a rental exemption in respect of an arm’s-length tenant, so long as there is a written tenancy agreement in place under the Residential Tenancy Act and the tenant resides at the property.