National

B.C. to extend rent freeze through 2021

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Mar, 2021 11:39 PM

The British Columbia government says it will introduce legislative changes to extend a rent freeze through the end of the year to stop illegal "renovictions" and improve the dispute resolution process for tenants and landlords.

Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver-West End and chair of the Rental Housing Task Force, on behalf of David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, who will be available to speak about new legislation to help renters.
https://t.co/kCj5wZ2vmD
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) March 1, 2021

The province has already introduced and extended a rent freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it says in a news release Monday that the new legislative changes will keep it in place through Dec. 31.

It says tenants can disregard any notice of a rent increase they've received that would have taken effect before Jan. 1, 2022, and starting next year rent hikes will be capped at the rate of inflation.

The release says before the NDP government took power in 2017, the maximum allowable rent increase was as high as 4.3 per cent, well above inflation.

The province also says the legislative changes mean tenants will no longer face so-called renovictions, or eviction notices for "phoney" renovations aimed at driving out long-term tenants and jacking up the rent.

Landlords will be required to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch before they can end a tenancy agreement for renovations, and they will also not be able to evict tenants for renovations that are not substantial or do not require the unit to be vacant.

The changes, if passed, will come into effect on July 1 and are in addition to earlier protections introduced in 2018.

The province also says it's improving fairness in the residential tenancy dispute resolution process by expanding grounds for the Residential Tenancy Branch to review arbitrator decisions.

"We know many people who rent in our communities have been challenged by high rents," says Spencer Chandra Herbert, the legislature member for Vancouver-West End, in the news release.

"We know there's more to do, but with these new changes, we're continuing to make progress."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Raymond said killings 'not my fault': witness

On Sept. 15 when the trial opened, lawyers for Raymond acknowledged their client shot and killed the four people but said he is not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Raymond said killings 'not my fault': witness

Supreme Court reserves judgment on carbon tax

After two days of hearings and presentations from more than two dozen interested parties, the court adjourned without yet deciding whether the carbon price is constitutional.

Supreme Court reserves judgment on carbon tax

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

The Liberals framed their approach Wednesday as giving Canadians a choice, in an echo of their 2019 election campaign strategy.

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

The plan also includes reconstituting committees such as a special body examining Canada-China relations.

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Data from the coroners service show overdose deaths began increasing in B.C. just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, when 113 people died, up from 73 in February.

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Five highlights from the throne speech

Aiming to make Canada a world leader in clean technology, the Liberals promise a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emissions products. The government will also cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies.