Although designed for self-representation, the dispute resolution process can pose challenges for many tenants. For this reason, the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) allows “advocates” to provide assistance at hearings. For example, the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) has a team of advocates who provide free legal representation to clients across BC.
Renting It Right: Dispute Resolution has been developed not only for self-representing tenants, but also advocates. If you work or volunteer for an organization that assists tenants, hopefully this course can help you more effectively represent clients going through the dispute resolution process.
According to Residential Tenancy Branch Policy Guideline 26, advocates can assist at dispute resolution in the following ways:
- by making legal arguments and submissions on behalf of a party;
- by presenting facts and evidence of the case and explaining how they relate to the law;
- by helping a party present their oral and documentary evidence;
- by asking questions to the party and their witnesses for the purpose of presenting evidence; and
- by cross-examining the other party and their witnesses with respect to their evidence.
Resources
- TRAC Webpage – Legal Representation
- RTB Rules of Procedure Rule 6.7 – Party may be represented or assisted
- RTB Policy Guideline 26 – Advocates, Agents and Assistants
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