File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Andrew Mercier, MLA for Langley

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Protecting renters and landlords

Apr 10, 2024 | 10:30 AM

MOST LANDLORDS AND TENANTS have a good, healthy relationship and play by the rules. But we all know there are some bad actors out there that take advantage of the system.

That’s why last week our government took action to better protect renters and landlords.

Too many people have been served an eviction notice so that a landlord or their family can move in, only to see the unit back on the market at a much higher price a few months later.

In rental buildings with more than 5 units, landlords are no longer allowed to end tenancy for personal occupancy. And in smaller buildings, we are putting in place new rules to prevent bad-faith evictions.

We’re requiring landlords to file an online application through the Residential Tenancy Branch. By having a standardized process, it will help ensure that notices are properly completed, that landlords understand the requirements and significant financial risks of evicting in bad faith and will help minimize the impacts of bad-faith evictions to landlords ending tenancies in good faith.

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The new rules will also require landlords to give tenants a longer notice period and require that the landlord or their family occupies the unit for at least 12 months, an increase from the previous six-month rule. This is designed to further deter landlords from evicting only to raise the rent later.

Rising interest rates, inflation, and a growing global housing affordability crisis has been making finding an affordable place to live especially tough on parents – a rent increase is the last thing new parents need when welcoming a new child into their home. That’s why we’re restricting rent increases when a child under 19 years of age joins a family during a tenancy. This means that even if there is a term in the tenancy agreement that states rent will increase with new occupants, no rent increases above the annual allowable increase will be permitted.

We know that the vast majority of landlords, have no malicious intent, and want to have a healthy relationship with their tenants. Amendments we’re making include providing landlords additional support, if they have repeatedly problematic tenants who harass them, destroy property, or violate the lease.

Increasing monetary penalties to improve compliance will help people take their lease, and its rules, more seriously, helping deter tenants and landlords from bad behavior. This helps build on previous work we’ve done to help support landlords who need to evict tenants with just cause, including improving wait times at the RTB, and expediting hearings for emergency matters.

We’re addressing the housing crisis from all angles, and this is just one piece of the puzzle. And we’ve made real progress, with more than 77,000 homes open or on the way, and tens of thousands more to come. We’re also cracking down on vacant homes by taxing speculators, reigning in the out-of-control short-term rental market, increasing the number of units allowed on single family lots, and more to make sure the housing market in B.C. works best for people.

We’ll continue to make changes to support everyone in B.C. in finding and keeping a home they can afford.

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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 Pattison Media.