This week, we’re speaking with tenancy lawyer, Lisa Mackie, about the legal issues involved within the landlord-tenant dynamic!
Topics: tenant smoking & human rights; landlord privacy obligations & COVID-19; terminating tenancies due to household violence; and our Ask-Me-Anything segment.
Full Episode (54:06) Download
⚫ What sorts of human rights protections apply within the tenancy law context? (7:18)
⚫ How can landlords balance protecting a tenant’s privacy rights while also managing the general health risk of a building? (16:42)
⚫ How can tenancy agreements be pre-emptively terminated in cases of household violence? (25:53)
⚫ Our Ask-Me-Anything segment, featuring questions submitted by patrons of the Lawyered community (36:45)
? What are some general tips that can help tenants and landlords to resolve disputes without resorting to protracted court hearings? (37:37)
? Have you noticed any relationships between the changes in tenancy law and corresponding trends in affordable housing? (41:03)
? Do you foresee any legal challenges that may arise out of COVID-related tenancy policies (e.g. prohibitions on evictions) (44:24)
? What are some of the areas in which you think tenancy law may be evolving within the next few years? (47:31)
1. Smoking, Tenancies & Human Rights (12:52) Download
– Smith v. Mohan (No. 2), 2020 BCHRT 52
2. Landlords’ Privacy Obligations re COVID-19 (12:27) Download
– “Private Sector Landlord and Tenants (Guidance Document)”, Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (September 2019)
– Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, British Columbia
– “ Privacy in the landlord and tenant relationship”, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (April 2018)
3. Household Violence & Early Tenancy Terminations (14:10) Download
– “Ending a Tenancy in Special Circumstances”, Government of British Columbia
– Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2019 (Bill M 2016 – 2019)
4. Ask-Me-Anything: Tenancy Lawyer (17:22) Download
? What are some general tips that can help tenants and landlords to resolve disputes without resorting to protracted court hearings?
? Have you noticed any relationships between the changes in tenancy law and corresponding trends in affordable housing?
? Do you foresee any legal challenges that may arise out of COVID-related tenancy policies (e.g. prohibitions on evictions)
? What are some of the areas in which you think tenancy law may be evolving within the next few years?
About the Guest:
Lisa Mackie is a partner with Alexander Holburn, which is a leading full-service, Vancouver-based Canadian law firm. She is the leader of the firm’s Strata Property Practice Group and her primary areas of practice are Strata Property Law and Residential Tenancy Law.
Lisa has represented clients before all levels of Court in British Columbia on strata property and residential tenancy law matters. Lisa has also been involved in legal education initiatives for the Vancouver Bar Association and is a regular instructor for the Professional Association of Managing Agents and the Condominium Home Owners Association. She also develops educational initiatives for licensed property managers and unlicensed building managers.
Lisa has also been a trusted legal resource for various print and television media publications on strata property and residential tenancy issues including: CBC, CityTV Breakfast Television, Canadian Lawyer Magazine
Lisa’s Bio
Lisa’s Email Address