Renters in B.C. may get a break from the biggest rent increase in 15 years.

Instead of a 4.5 percent hike, the increase may just be 2.5 percent.

A provincial task force has recommended a change in the formula on how rent increases are computed.

The group led by Spencer Chandra Herbert, NDP MLA for Vancouver–West End, has suggested that future increases should be tied to the cost of inflation.

For 2019, the Residential Tenancy Branch on September 17 announced that the maximum increase would be 4.5 percent.

The 4.5 percent rate was based on the automatic base increase of two percent, plus the rate of inflation calculated at 2.5 percent.

In a letter to B.C. NDP Premier and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson, the task force recommended tying rent increases to inflation only.

For 2019, that would be 2.5 percent.

“This decision was made after we heard of many cases where renters struggled to pay yearly maximum rent increases,” wrote the task force, which includes Ronna-Rae Leonard (NDP, Courtenay-Comox) and Adam Olsen (B.C. Greens, Saanich North and the Islands).

According to the task force, this recommendation will “give the government the opportunity to act this year, as the need is great”.

The group made a second suggestion, which is that landlords can ask for an additional increase before the Residential Tenancy Branch if the rent increase is not enough to cover their costs.