Image Credit: BC Government

By Ashley Legassic

COVID-19

B.C. government announces new supports for renters, landlords

Mar 25, 2020 | 1:47 PM

VICTORIA — The provincial government has announced more measures to try to help support residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a news conference Wednesday, Premier John Horgan announced up to $500 per month for renters to ensure landlords weren’t left hanging out to dry.

The money will go directly to landlords.

Earlier today (March 25), cabinet met and approved the package designed to give immediate protection to renters and landlords.

Horgan is urging those who only truly need access to the funds to apply for them.

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He said those who are able to pay their full rent, should — adding that the fewer people who access the money, the more the government is able to expand the program in the future.

“While the emergency order is in place here in British Columbia, B.C. is suspending current and future evictions until this crisis has passed,” Horgan adds.

Housing Minister Selina Robinson said during the conference that although there will be a moratorium on evictions, there will be some exceptions including if there are safety issues.

She emphasized the importance of tenants and landlords communicating about any issues around rent.

Low and moderate income people who have experienced significant loss of income due to COVID-19 will be eligible for the rebate.

Robinson also said landlords will have the power to restrict the use of common areas in buildings, bar visitors from buildings, and restrict how many people can be in a shared space — like a laundry room — at once.

For more on the resources available for tenants and landlords, go here.

Here is the full list of measures being taken:

• Halting new and active evictions, except for exceptional circumstances, so that no one is evicted because of COVID-19 and people can remain in their homes during this crisis;
• Helping renters pay a portion of their rent each month through a new temporary rental supplement of up to $500 per month, building on other federal and provincial financial supports;
• Freezing annual rent increases to ensure that landlords cannot apply an annual rent increase for existing tenants during the COVID-19 crisis;
• Supporting tenants in social distancing and self-isolation by providing them the right to prevent landlords from accessing rental units without the tenant’s consent (for example, for showings or routine maintenance), except in exceptional cases where access is needed to respond to urgent health and safety concerns or to prevent undue damage to the unit;
• Restricting methods of service for Residential Tenancy Branch disputes or notices to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 (no in-person service) and allowing service by email; and
• Allowing landlords to restrict the use of common areas by tenants or guests to protect against the transmission of COVID-19.

The new changes support landlords by:

• Providing a new temporary rental supplement of up to $500 per month, which will be paid directly to landlords, ensuring they continue to receive rental income during the pandemic;
• Preserving the ability for landlords to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for permission to issue a notice to end tenancy in exceptional circumstances, for example when the safety of landlord or other tenants is at risk;
• Allowing landlords to restrict the use of common areas by tenants or guests to protect against the transmission of COVID-19; and
• Restricting methods of service for Residential Tenancy Branch disputes or notices to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 (no in-person service) and allowing service by email.