Resolving Neighbour Complaints About Pets and Smoke in Yukon Rentals

If you're a tenant in Yukon, dealing with neighbour complaints about pets or smoke can be stressful. These issues are common in rental properties and can affect your comfort and relationships at home. It's important to understand your rights, your landlord's duties, and what steps you should take when complaints arise. This guide uses the most current Yukon tenancy laws and government resources to help tenants handle these challenges.

Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Yukon) sets out clear rules for tenants, landlords, and neighbours living in close quarters.^[1] Key responsibilities and rights include:

• You have the right to reasonable enjoyment of your rental home, which covers keeping pets if allowed and freedom from excessive second-hand smoke.
• You must not unreasonably disturb your neighbours. This means controlling pet noise and making sure smoke (tobacco or cannabis) doesn't excessively enter other units.
• Many landlords set pet and smoking rules in rental agreements. Be sure you know what your lease says.

For a more detailed look at rental rules in your territory, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Yukon.

Common Complaints: Pets and Smoke

Pet-Related Complaints

• Noise: Barking dogs or noisy pets can disturb neighbours.
• Damage: Pets may cause property damage in shared areas or neighbouring units.
• Allergies or Fear: Some neighbours may have health conditions or fears regarding animals.

Your lease may limit the number, type, or size of pets. Always get landlord approval if required. Address issues promptly – repeated complaints can lead to written warnings or, in some cases, an eviction application.

Smoke-Related Complaints

• Smell: Smoke from tobacco, cannabis, or other products drifting into other units.
• Health: Second-hand smoke can trigger medical conditions or allergies.
• Lease Restrictions: Many rentals now include no-smoking policies for health and fire safety reasons.

If your building is smoke-free, smoking anywhere inside your unit (including balconies) could be a lease violation. It’s important to note these rules apply equally to cannabis and tobacco in Yukon.

What to Do If a Neighbour Complains

Receiving a complaint doesn't always mean you're breaking the law. Here’s how to respond effectively:

• Listen and Communicate: Find out the specific concern. Is it pet noise at certain hours? Smoke drifting through vents? Good communication often resolves issues quickly.
• Check Your Lease: Review rules for pets or smoking in your agreement or building policies.
• Reduce the Problem: For pets, consider extra exercise, training, or professional help for behaviour. For smoke, use designated areas, air filters, or smoke outdoors if allowed.
• Respond in Writing: If you’ve received a written notice, reply to your landlord in writing documenting your side and steps you’re taking.

Landlord Involvement and Official Processes

If informal discussion does not resolve the problem, your landlord may:

• Issue a written warning describing the complaint and requesting corrective action
• Require you to abide by building policies, or request proof of efforts to reduce the issue
• In extreme cases: Start a process to end your tenancy, but must follow the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act process

Key Yukon Tenancy Forms

• Form N14 – Eviction for Cause: Used by a landlord when tenants repeatedly disturb others or break pet/smoking agreements. Landlords must outline the reason. Example: Your landlord serves you N14 if your dog’s loud barking continues despite warnings.
• Dispute Application Form: Tenants or landlords use this to request a hearing with the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office if they disagree about the complaint or the landlord’s response.

Always keep copies of notices and responses. Written records may be needed if you end up before the Tribunal.

Health, Safety, and Reasonable Enjoyment

Concerns about smoke and pets often relate to health and reasonable enjoyment, which are protected under law. If you believe a neighbour’s actions are impacting your health or quiet use of your home, you may raise a formal complaint, and the landlord must investigate. These issues are among the Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting and should be addressed promptly.

For other recurring tenant issues, see Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them. If you’re searching for pet-friendly rental homes, Search pet-friendly rentals on Houseme.ca.

When to Contact the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office

The Yukon Residential Tenancies Office handles disputes between tenants and landlords, including those involving pets and smoke. If you receive a formal eviction notice or need to dispute a landlord’s decision, you can apply for a hearing with this office.^[2]

Summary: Tenant complaints related to pets or smoke require good communication, awareness of your lease and Yukon law, and, when needed, use of official forms and resources to resolve disputes promptly and fairly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my landlord ban pets or smoking after I move in?
   Landlords can update lease rules at renewal, but they generally cannot change major conditions—like allowing pets or smoking—mid-lease unless both parties agree or in response to ongoing complaints that affect other tenants' enjoyment or safety.
2. What if my neighbour's smoke is affecting my health?
   Document the problem, tell your landlord in writing, and request an investigation. If it continues, contact the Yukon Residential Tenancies Office and consider submitting a Dispute Application Form.
3. Can I be evicted in Yukon because of neighbour complaints about my pet?
   Eviction is only possible after written warnings and if the problem is serious or persistent. The landlord must use the proper eviction form and follow legal steps, as outlined in the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
4. Do I have to disclose my pet when applying for a rental?
   Yes. Hiding a pet that is not allowed under the rental agreement could risk eviction.

Key Takeaways

• Tenants in Yukon must follow lease rules for pets and smoking, but also have rights to reasonable enjoyment of their homes.
• Neighbour complaints can often be solved with communication and compromise.
• Keep written records and know how to use official forms if issues escalate.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Yukon Residential Tenancies Office: Official information, forms, and dispute resolution services
• Phone: 867-667-5944 | Toll-Free (Yukon only): 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5944 | Email: rto@gov.yk.ca
• Landlord and Tenant Resources – Yukon Government
• Local tenant advocacy groups can assist with information and support.

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1. Yukon Government. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Yukon) – Full Legislation.
2. Yukon Residential Tenancies Office: tenancy support and dispute resolution.

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