Former Victoria Towers tenants who are still waiting for their rent and damage deposits to be returned must file complaints with the residential tenancy branch before the government can step in.
"The residential tenancy branch can't act for tenants if they don't contact the branch," a provincial government spokeswoman said Friday on background.
Ninety-four people were forced out of Victoria Towers by a Nov. 3 fire. All of them now have new homes, according to local authorities, but refunds remain up in the air.
Of the five tenants contacted this week, none have received refunds for both their rent and damage deposit and two said they've received neither.
Ken Biron said Friday he has received a cheque for $518 - the amount he paid in rent for his one-bedroom apartment - but is still waiting for his damage deposit to be returned.
If that doesn't occur by mid-January, Biron said he'll file a complaint with the residential tenancy branch.
The building is owned by Pacific West Properties in Vancouver. Attempts to reach the owners by phone have been met with a message saying the mailbox for its voice message is full.
Tenants complaints can be combined into a single action, the spokeswoman said.
"Where two or more applications for dispute resolution name the same landlord and the matters are related and it is logical to do so, the director of the residential tenancy branch can join the applications into one hearing," she said.
More information can be found at www.rto.gov.bc.ca.
