2022 : CAVEAT : SINCE TIME BEGAN : salus populi suprema est lex - the right of the people is the supreme law : IN TRUTH WE TRUST : CAVEAT : 2022
RESPONSE FROM BC MINISTRY OF HEALTH : MAY 30TH, 2022
CANADA : RATS & MICE : ADVICE : BC HEALTH : PREVENTION : VIGILANCE
Residential Tenancy Oversight Assembly International & Associate Actors : ICG Ltd CANADA & LOE (Life On Earth) Corp International
Dear Residential Tenancy Oversight Assembly International:
Thank you for your emails of May 3 and 19, 2022, addressed to the Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, regarding a rodent infestation within a multi-family high rise building in Victoria, British Columbia (B.C.). I am responding on the Minister’s behalf.
Under B.C.’s Public Health Act, Environmental Health Officers at health authorities can provide general advice on identification and control of common household pests, such as mice. However, it is a landlord’s responsibility to maintain the residential property in a state that complies with the health, safety, and housing standards. Information regarding landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities around cleaning and maintenance may be found on the Residential Tenancy Branch (RBT) website at: Repairs & Maintenance - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca).
With respect to pest control, you may find the following resources useful:
- Getting Rid of Rodents (Rats and Mice) | HealthLink BC
- Managing rat and mouse pests - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- Rats and mice - Canada.ca
I encourage you to work with the landlord of the multi-family high rise building to resolve the rodent infestation. However, you also have the option of getting further information on BC Housing’s complaint resolution process on their website at: Compliments and Complaints (bchousing.org).
If the rodent infestation is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may wish to file a complaint with the RBT by phone at 250 387-1602 (Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm), or by email at HSRTO@gov.bc.ca. Additional support, information, and advocacy is available by contacting a Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC) (https://tenants.bc.ca/) representative at the Tenant Infoline at 1-800-665-1185 during the following days and times: Monday 1 to 5 pm; Tuesday 1 to 5 pm; Wednesday 5:30 to 8:30 pm; Thursday 1 to 5 pm; Friday 1 to 5 pm.
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, and I wish you the best of luck in resolving this issue.
Sincerely,
Geneen Russo
A/Executive Director
Population and Public Health Division
Ministry of Health
GOOD DAY, G RUSSO : A/Executive Director : Population And Public Health Division, BC
- CEMENTITIOUS HIGHRISE : OWNED BY INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY ASSETS FIRM; MANAGED BY DOMESTIC LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY - BOTH WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE
- TENANT COMPLAINTS OF RODENT INFESTATIONS IN ALL 14 LEVELS HAVE BEEN LODGED WITH THE RESIDENT MANAGERS AND THE TWO PRINCIPAL LANDLORDS
- ORIGINS OF INVITATION : CONTROL OF FOOD WASTE RECYCLING BINS STORED IN BASEMENT HALLWAY APPEARS TO BE A PRINCIPAL ISSUE
- OUR DESIRE IS ONLY TO POSSESS A REASONABLE COST EXPECTATION TO BE BORNE BY THIS LANDLORD IN PROCEEDING TO RESOLVE THIS IMMEDIATE MATTER - AND - TO ENSURE ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES TO PREVENT ANY RECURRENCE : I.E., ENVIRONMENT CONTROL & INFORMATION CIRCULARS TO TENANTS ADVISING OF PERSONAL PRACTICES TO ASSIST THE LANDLORD IN MEETING REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS.
GOOD DAY, HON GRACE LORE, MP BC & HON LAUREL COLLINS, MP CANADA
VICTORIA, BC CITY COUNCIL
GOOD DAY, VICTORIA MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
2022 : CAVEAT : SINCE TIME BEGAN : salus populi suprema est lex - the right of the people is the supreme law : IN TRUTH WE TRUST : CAVEAT : 2022