Measure is intended to boost security and fairness in the market’s rental sector
.jpg)
B.C.’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has pledged improvements in public education and enforcement to protect renters’ and landlords’ rights.
This is the first salvo in the provincial government’s goal to address various guidelines offered by a rental housing task force. Said recommendations were intended to bolster security and fairness in the highly competitive space.
“To make renting work better for everyone, we need to make sure both renters and landlords know their rights under the law and have a place to go when there's an issue with those rights,” Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Selina Robinson stated, as quoted by The Canadian Press.
“Housing is the foundation of people’s lives. We want to create a rental market where there are no surprises, renters and landlords are treated fairly and there is better security for both sides.”
The Ministry noted that the education drive, which will be funded by new tranches through Landlord BC and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, will pay particular attention in enlightening the public about renovictions – specifically the situations when ending a tenant’s term could be considered illegal or unnecessary.
In addition, the B.C. government said that its newest compliance and enforcement unit (nested in the Residential Tenancy Branch) will focus on investigating and penalizing repeat or serious offenses by renters and landlords alike.
