Today the Rental Housing Task Force that I sit on with Spencer Chandra-Herbert and Ronna-Rae Leonard announced that we are recommending to Minister Selina Robinson that government change the rent increase formula from the current inflation + 2% to inflation only.
Balance and fairness…
Criticism came quickly when the government announced earlier this month that they were going to leave the formula as the BC Liberals left it. It amounted to a possible 4.5% increase for 2019. And that is on top of more than a decade of such increases.
The Rental Housing Task Force is looking at the deep challenges facing both renters and landlords in the current market. We recognize that fairness and balance must be considered with any recommendations we make.
During our consultations we heard from both renters and landlord. We heard that renters cannot keep up with the current increases. Landlords were clear, they need to be able to generate enough revenue to keep their properties up-to-date and safe for their tenants.
Keeping properties maintained…
Our recommendation to limit increases to inflation only will help renters keep the costs of living more manageable. In addition, we are strongly recommending the Minister and government consider a program to allow landlords to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for increases over and above inflation to recover investments they have made in their property. This is a similar policy as Ontario and Manitoba have adopted.
The challenges posed in our consultations to find the middle ground, help British Columbians manage in an affordability crisis as well as assist landlords keep their properties up to date, are difficult. During our deliberations we considering all the potential implications of our decisions.
This announcement is just one recommendation of many that we are making to the Minister. We decided to make this announcement at this time because landlords must give three months notice to increase rents. We wanted the government to have this recommendation early so they can hopefully make a decision before October 1, 2018 which will be in time for January 1, 2019 notices.
The full report and complete list of recommendations will be published and made public in November.
Working together…
Finally, this is an excellent example of how a minority government, and different political parties can work together, despite our differences, on behalf of British Columbians. This process has shown that we can work together. We can find common ground and develop policy recommendations that are fair and balanced. Definitely something worth celebrating!
Thanks for getting in touch. As a senior, 71, handicapped and struggling with recurrent cancer, it is really hard to find affordable housing in Vernon, BC
I have lived in a basement suite in Surrey for 3 1/2 years and always paid my rent on time, quiet etc. My landlord raised my rent twice in a 12 month period and was trying for a third time when I found out he couldnt legally do that. One legal increase and second increase 7 months later when I was basically bullied into paying $172 more a month and was trying to raise my rent another 3 hundred in November when my sister came to stay with me for a total of a $472 increase in one year. Crazy, greedy landlords. Now because I want my money back he is harassing me and saying I am smoking marijuana in my suite, after telling me just two months ago his teenage daughter had turned to drugs and was suicidal. I would like to move but places are unaffordable
Thank you for sharing your story Debra. During our tour of the province we heard many stories like this.
So I understand that in new rental buildings that are being built for affordable housing is a farce as I have seen what would be charged is $1500 and more. I couldn’t afford on our pension and even the above person with an illness. Very sad!
It really depends on the project. As I understand it there are a range of projects and a range of rents being offered across the province.
Ive lived in surrey for over 6 years and rent has gone up 5 times with in the past 4 years i was paying 900. For rent over 6 years ago then a new landlord came in and broke all leases and then raised our rent up so from paying 900 a month now its gone up to 1023.74 and now i have to get a second job just so im able to pay my bills and be able to eat is this really fair to people. And then on top of it i have 2 pets and there is nothing affordable that is pet friendly . If the rent keeps going up i might have to move back in with my parents and look for work up in the kootenays where jobs are so scares up there for the work i do here. Some one should put a cap on the rental hikes cause people can’t afford anymore of this or there will be more people out on the streets. Who are hard working lower class people cause there is no middle class any more im very disappointed with the rich getting richer and no middle class its all lower income people getting poorer. This needs to stop !!!!!
I am disabled now and later in life have been forced on PWD…our housing allowance is $375….what can you get for that even if there was anything to rent which there isnt…..Im now forced to move in with family and disrupt their lives while waiting for assissted living…my only option….the wait list for that alone is 2 yrs…..wow…i worked hard and paid my taxes and now i need some help and can t get it…..thank you for that.