B.C. coalition sets out 13 proposals for tenant protection
A new coalition has come up with 13 “modest” proposals to serve as “reasonable protections for tenants”.
The recommendations are in a report released Wednesday (May 1) by the B.C. Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Community Legal Assistance Society, Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, Pivot Legal Society, West Coast LEAF, and Active Manufactured Homeowners Association.
Rent controls top the list of the 13 “simple changes” proposed by the coalition.
Next on the list is to minimize “harsh and unnecessary evictions”. The report was issued as residents of Kwantlen Park Manor in Surrey are facing eviction.
The coalition also suggests empowering the Residential Tenancy Branch to be more assertive in overseeing the implementation of tenancy regulations. In line with this, the organizations also propose improvements to the RTB processes.
The next seven recommendations would make life easier for tenants. These include the protection of subsidized tenants, the prohibition of application deposits, prevention of landlord retaliations, compensation for tenants who are evicted, enforcement of the landlord’s duty to provide residents a copy of the tenancy agreement, requiring landlords to give a written warning before issuing a notice to end tenancy, and the protection of tenants’ safety.
The coalition also proposes clarifying grey areas in the Residential Tenancy Act’s coverage. Lastly, it recommends the provision of housing security for residents in mobile-home parks.
Comments
6 Comments
land(not)lord
May 1, 2013 at 11:44pm
seriously, more "protection" is just what the rapscallions who mangage to live rent free by gaming the system need! If a renter trashes your place, there's no way you can pay for the damage they do, and you can't even evict them! But you still have to pay the property taxes and maintenance!
democracynow
May 2, 2013 at 2:01pm
No, actually a landlord can evict someone for property damage. See the Residential Tenancy Act, s.47(1)(f)-(g). You can also get an order for compensation from the tenant for the damage caused.
Tenants in Victoria, BC
May 12, 2013 at 8:19am
When I opened the mail and saw $1942.00 for a second hydro bill January 12, 2013, my knees buckled! Another 2 months later for $1400!
After the landlords diverted $500 from my family's October rent for paint they bought for the house we are renting from them and an additional $500 for a Pet Deposit added into the lease we received AFTER we moved in, I was furious. But, what to do?
Here I am typing this Sunday morning after reading your article on the BCPIAC website because I am going back to BC Supreme Court tomorrow to file an Order for an Interim Stay for a judicial review. But I won't get it.
Why? Because after paying chunks of money to BC Hydro to keep the power on for the house my 2 kids and our downstairs teenage tenant occupy, my rent has become increasingly late. To the point that the landlords have filed an eviction notice and the RTB's arbitrator gave us no chance to tell our side of the story or give any evidence, so I'm trying to get us some time to find another place.
If anyone thinks that tenants in BC have ALL the power call me! I've had better treatment at a grocery store! The problem is that the BC Rental Assistance has been underfunded, the RTB has had offices shut down, and basically this lack of housing supports have created the perfect storm for tenant/landlord disputes.
I am tired of hearing how 'renters are low-life types' when we have had misrepresentation resulting in losing our homes! Where is the humanity in the BC government? Our rent has tripled over the last 9 years from $800/month to over $2400/month plus utilities!
Thanks for letting me rant! Keep up the great journalism!
jack
Jul 26, 2013 at 9:40pm
renters are irresponsible young adults or older loosers, Texas has the best tenancy rules, BC's tenant rules are not democratic
Landlordlady
Sep 23, 2013 at 11:54am
My young family (I have a 3 year old and 3 month old) have been victimized by out tenant who smokes illicit substances in our home making my children sick. She plays loud music when it is their bedtime so we have had to move out of our own home. The RTB regulations have caused my children to lose their home when they need it the most and empowered a very litigious criminal who has taken over our once simple life. I'm sorry but there are more useless human beings who are renters than not....apologies to the handful of renters who are good standing human beings but there aren't many of you.
Humble home owner
Mar 5, 2014 at 1:05am
Whether or not someone owns or rents a house has nothing to do with character. All the homeowners who have commented on this so far seem to be quite disgusting, judgemental human beings. Owning a home certainly hasn't made them better people.