What Utilities Are Usually Included in Vancouver Rent?

In Vancouver, apartment rent usually includes water, sewer and garbage, and in many older rental buildings it also includes heat and hot water. Electricity (BC Hydro), internet and tenant insurance are usually extra. Basement suites vary the most: some include everything, others split utilities with the main house. Whatever is included must be listed in your written tenancy agreement, and once included, a landlord can’t simply stop providing it.

What’s Typically Included, by Home Type

Home type	Usually included	Usually extra
Older purpose-built rental apartment	Water, garbage, heat and hot water (central boiler), sometimes shared laundry	Electricity, internet, tenant insurance
Newer rental building	Water and garbage; sometimes hot water	Electricity (including electric heat), internet, sometimes parking and storage
Rented condo	Water and garbage, and items paid through strata fees such as hot water or gas fireplaces in some buildings	Electricity, internet
Basement or laneway suite	Varies: often a flat amount or a share of the house’s bills	Sometimes internet; check the split
House or townhouse	Rarely anything	Electricity, gas, water and garbage (municipal), internet

What “Utilities Not Included” Means

It means you set up and pay for the utilities yourself, usually electricity, and gas if the unit has gas appliances. Before signing, ask:

• Is the heat electric baseboard (on your BC Hydro bill) or from a building boiler?
• Is hot water from a building system or an in-suite tank?
• Are there gas appliances, and whose account is the gas on?
• Which internet providers serve the building?

Electric heat makes the biggest difference in winter. See how much utilities cost in a Vancouver apartment for worked BC Hydro examples.

Shared Utilities in Suites

If your suite shares a meter with the main house, agree on the split in writing before you move in: a fixed monthly amount, or a percentage of each bill. Put it in the tenancy agreement, and ask to see recent bills so you know what to expect.

Your Rights in BC

• It must be in writing: BC landlords must use a written tenancy agreement, which lists the services and facilities included in the rent.
• Essential services can’t be cut: a landlord can’t stop or restrict a service or facility that’s essential to using the home as living accommodation.
• Other included services: a landlord who stops or restricts a non-essential service, such as a storage locker, must give 30 days’ written notice and reduce the rent accordingly.
• Rent increases stay limited to the annual allowable amount (2.3% for 2026), whatever is included.

Comparing Two Rentals

When rent differs by a small amount, compare the total: a unit with heat and hot water included can cost less overall than a cheaper one with electric baseboards, especially from November to March. Add electricity, internet and insurance to each rent before you decide.

Once you’ve found the right place, Tingsapp moves apartments across Vancouver at fixed upfront prices. See Vancouver movers.

Sources

• BC Residential Tenancy Branch — tenancy agreements, included services and facilities, and terminating or restricting services (gov.bc.ca), 2026
• Province of BC — 2026 maximum allowable rent increase (news.gov.bc.ca), 2025
• BC Hydro — residential rates and accounts (bchydro.com), 2026
• City of Vancouver — utilities for residential properties (vancouver.ca), 2026

Related guides

• How Much Do Utilities Cost in a Vancouver Apartment?
• How Much Rent Can You Afford in Vancouver on $60K, $80K or $100K?
• Renter Rights in BC
• How to Find a Rental in Vancouver

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hydro included in rent in Vancouver?

Usually not. Most tenants have their own BC Hydro account. Some basement suites include electricity or split it with the main house.

Is heat included in Vancouver apartments?

Often in older rental buildings with central boilers. In suites heated by electric baseboards, heat is on your BC Hydro bill.

What does “utilities not included” mean?

You pay for utilities separately, usually electricity, and gas if there are gas appliances. Water and garbage are still usually covered in apartments.

Can my landlord stop including a utility?

Not an essential one. For other included services, a landlord must give 30 days’ written notice and reduce the rent.

How should shared utilities be split in a suite?

Agree on a fixed amount or a percentage of each bill, and write it into the tenancy agreement before you move in.

Does internet usually come with rent?

Rarely. Check which providers serve the building and set up the account before you move.