SOUND OFF: Taking action to protect renters

Since we put a freeze on rent increases in the early days of the pandemic, we have saved people hundreds of dollars at a time they needed it most. Extending this period will allow people to continue seeing that benefit while our economy recovers. We are also permanently capping rent increases to inflation, beginning in 2022.

People who have already gotten a notice of rent increase for 2021 can disregard it. Instead, they can focus more on keeping themselves and their family safe and healthy. This also applies to renters who have an increase worked into their lease; they can continue to pay the same amount for the rest of 2021.

Renters in Kamloops reported that their landlords were trying to use phony renovations as an excuse to evict them so they could radically increase rents – a practice known as renovictions.

To provide more stability to renters, and more certainty for rental housing providers, we’ll be requiring an application to the Residential Tenancy Branch in the case of major renovations, with strong encouragement for landlords and tenants to work together to keep people in their homes. We have also worked to eliminate duplicate steps, red tape, and extra processes that were costing landlords, renters, and the system too much time and money.

The past year has reminded us just how vital it is that we take care of each other. As a provincial government, we are proud to do all we can to take care of people in B.C., to make life easier and more affordable, and build our province back even better than before.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver-West End

SOUND OFF: Taking action to protect renters

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