Owner F.A.Q's

View Tenants FAQ

Long Term Rental Questions

At MPRR, we are owners too. We started the company to ensure the rentals we purchased in British Columbia would always have reliable management. It turns out, other owners in town were desiring a quality service also, and as a result, we have grown by 2400% in the last seven years. Our success has also been fuelled by community expansion and a strong focus on never deviating from our core principles of reducing owner stress, freeing owner time, and continually increasing property value. We look forward to helping you achieve your real estate investment goals.

How much does it cost to use your services?

This question is easily the most common one we receive. It is important to first establish the following: In 90% of cases, we can make our owners the same or more money than they have historically gotten, even after subtracting our management fees. It is worth having a conversation with us on how we achieve this end. The other question, which is often forgotten is, “How much of my time will I get back?” The answer is, all of it. While we realize money is paramount and we do everything to maximize return, our owners often express how they underestimated the bliss which comes from not dealing with tenant issues ever again. Long-Term Management Fees – If there are no tenants currently in the property, we charge 50% of the monthly rental rate to advertise, find, screen, complete lease work, complete move-in inspection, and set up payment processing. This is applicable the first month only, and there is a management charge of 10% per month after that. For a full schedule of pricing download our ‘Summary of Services’ in the Forms and Contracts link under Owners.

What constitutes a long-term rental?

In British Columbia, anything over 30 days is deemed a long-term rental. For our purposes, we target long-term rentals to be anything over 6 months.

What is the process of tenant screening?

Email communication; phone communication; tenant application submitted (view application at /rental-application); rental references checked; employer references checked; in-person interview; and when required (government housing or at the request of the Owner) credit check, criminal check, and verification of income.

Do I have to sign a contract?

Under British Columbia Real Estate Law, our company must enter into a written agreement before advertising, showing, or leasing your property. You can view our management engagement agreements in the ‘Forms & Contracts’ section of the website.

What is the process of moving a tenant in?

Tenant has a meeting at the office to sign lease work and go over the rules of tenancy; tenant signs a lease and pays the first month’s rent and damage deposit; a move-in time is set; the unit is professionally cleaned and steam cleaned; any needed maintenance is completed; the tenant is met at the property to hand over keys and complete a walk-through; a video, photo, and written inspection report is created and signed; the tenant is given their welcome package; 10 days after move-in our office confirms the transfer of utilities; 15 days after move-in the tenant is contacted to see how everything is going.

What happens if a tenant does not pay rent?

On the second of each month the accounting department prints off a report of unpaid rents. Tenants who are late are contacted via phone, text, and e-mail. If there is no response an eviction letter is delivered. 99.9% of tenants pay their rent after receiving this notice. For those who do not, we begin the eviction process. Of the approximate 2,808 tenants we have rented to in the time of owning MPRR, we have only had to evict 3 tenants or .01%. It is a very rare occurrence.

What happens if a tenant breaks their lease?

If the tenant stays for less than 80% of their term, MPRR will place a new tenant at no cost to the owner. The tenant is subject to pay for the cost to re-rent the suite which includes a placement charge of 50% of 1 rental month for a new tenant. If a vacancy occurs as a result of breaching the lease, the placement charge which is collected from the tenant is forwarded to the owner as rental loss compensation less any costs associated to return the suite back to the original condition. We can often place a new tenant within 30 days. However, the Owner can choose at any point in time to exercise their right to take the tenant through the Residential Tenancy Branch arbitration process to obtain compensation in the case there is a significant rental loss.

What is the average rental rate? What can I rent my property for?

Rental rates currently range from $800 to $1000 per bedroom (2023). Three bedrooms start at approximately $2500 a month.

What is the rental market like?

Very strong. On an average annual basis, our vacancy rate is below 5%.

Do you offer on-call service 24 hours a day?

Yes. Please call our office at 888-621-1177 or email rentals@mprr.ca during business hours for assistance. Our team coordinates emergency response for managed properties.

What is the process for tenant evictions?

Full evictions are extremely rare. When they do occur we follow the guidelines laid out in the Residential Tenancy Act. Evicting a tenant who is resistant to leave in our experience can take up to three months. In 60% of the cases, we have dealt with the courts will award the owner back rent if it has not been paid. Every situation is different, and if you are looking for consulting around an eviction, we are happy to help.

How is maintenance handled?

A problem is reported by a tenant or flagged by us during an inspection; estimates and options for repair are prepared by our maintenance department; any maintenance under $50.00 is completed; any maintenance over $50.00 is sent to the owner with the estimates for approval; once approved, we manage all repairs to completion. Two maintenance call out inspections per month are included free with monthly management fees.

What does the rental disbursement and monthly reporting system look like?

Rents are collected on the first of the month. Owner disbursements (minus management and any maintenance expenses) are deposited in owner accounts before the 10th. Most months, disbursements are completed by the 5th, but in our contract, it is the 10th to allow for irregularities in banking days or late tenant payments. Owner statements are e-mailed monthly before the 15th.

Do you have an addendum which goes along with your lease?

We use two different addendums. One for BC housing and one for privately owned properties. We start with 65 additions to the standard leases and make many redactions/additions depending on property specifics or owner requests/mandates.

Where do you advertise available properties?

Our website – mprr.ca. As we manage a significant share of residential rentals in town and rank highly when searching for local property rentals on Google, we find most people searching for a rental property in town will contact us.

How does MPRR deal with damage?

Pre-move out inspections are completed 20 days before move out to flag any damage while the tenant is still occupying the unit. Quotes are generated for repairs, work is completed and paid for by the tenant, or out of the tenant’s damage deposit.

Is there anything I need to do to my property to make it rental ready?

Part of our rental process is to complete a property inspection before renting the unit. If anything needs to be done, it would be flagged at this point. The most common items we find missing are fire extinguishers and fire alarms in each bedroom.

What if I want to sell my home while it is rented?

Mountain Peaks Resort Realty has worked with almost every Realtor in town, and we have helped sell homes while tenanted. Feel free to call us if you would like advice on successfully selling a rental home.

If I am a non-resident of Canada, is there anything I should know about owning a rental property?

Yes. There is a lot to know surrounding the Canadian foreign owner’s tax laws. Please talk to us if you are a non-resident and looking at investing in rental property, so we can advise you on tax saving strategies. We can also put you in touch with an accounting firm that is well versed in all matters relating to Non-Resident tax preparation.

What is the demand for commercial space?

Entrepreneurship and the demand for commercial space have grown significantly over the years. We have found that spaces in the downtown core rent within 30 – 60 days and niche commercial spaces, or those away from the downtown core can take longer to find a tenant.

Tenants F.A.Q's

View Owners FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are questions we normally get from our potential tenants. If you have questions that are in regard to the Tenant Act of BC please check the RTB website which is very informative – www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy.

Why would we want to rent through a rental management company?

Your home will be kept in better shape as we have contracts with the owners to keep it that way. You will have someone on call 24 hours a day for you if there are any issues. We can help resolve disagreements between tenants/owners, tenants/neighbors, and roommates. As a licensed property management company, we work strictly under the Residential Tenancy Act so you know your rental experience will be in alignment with BC law. We can help negotiate a better rental rate for you. If you want to move we can help with the relocation process. We know the town and the market and are working for you to find your best possible home.

Is it not going to be more expensive through a management company?

No. There are no extra costs for renters. Our home owners pay our management fees.

How long are the lease terms?

We prefer 6-month lease terms as a trial period with the option to renew longer term. But we have done shorter and longer leases in the past.

If a property is furnished can we get it without furniture?

The furnishings are at the owner’s discretion and are different on a case by case basis. Most often it is not possible to unfurnish the property as there is nowhere to store the furnishings but it is always worth asking.

Can I negotiate the price of rent?

If you are a fantastic renter, have great references and are looking for a long-term lease we can often negotiate with the homeowner.

What about pets?

Each property is different and at least 25% of our properties are pet-friendly. If you have pets we can do our best to find you a pet-friendly home. We do take a pet deposit which is 50% of a month’s rent and which is returned at the end of your lease if there has been no pet damage. Even if a property is not pet-friendly, it is worth asking if the owner would allow a small lap dog. We will rarely permit a medium to a large sized dog in an apartment. This is in the best interest of the animal.

Will there be a security deposit?

Yes. We collect a security deposit of 50% of one month’s rent and an additional 50% of one month’s rent if you have a pet. Your deposit is returned at the completion of the lease.

How does Mountain Peaks Resort Realty collect rent?

Post dated cheques or e-mail money transfer are our preferred methods of payment.

What about utilities?

Most of our properties do not include utilities and the utilities must be switched over to your name within 3 days of move in.

What would a move out charge consist of?

Our policy as per the tenancy act is that the property is left in the same condition on the move out as it was on the move in. Reasonable wear and tear are expected. Returning a property to the condition it was at the start of the tenancy most often includes cleaning, steam cleaning of carpets, minor repairs, and garbage or furniture removal.

How can I avoid getting billed for move out costs?

Hire a professional cleaning company. Have the carpets professionally steam cleaned (please do not use grocery-store rental machines). Repair any minor repairs which were the result of your tenancy or actions. Remove garbage and any furnishings which were not in your rental at the beginning.

How do I apply for a rental?

Complete the online rental application in full. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Courteous communication with our team is part of the application process.

How do I submit a maintenance request?

Use the Maintenance Request form on this site for non-emergencies. For urgent issues, call 888-621-1177 or email rentals@mprr.ca.

Who do I contact for rent or lease questions?

Email rentals@mprr.ca or call 888-621-1177 during business hours.