The pandemic-induced economic slowdown has offered a sliver of comfort to renters.

Because of low inflation, the B.C. government has set the maximum allowable rent increase at just 1.4 percent for 2021.

Manufactured-home tenants must pay a proportional amount for changes in local government levies and regulated utility fees, in addition to the 1.4 percent rent hike.

Under the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords can only jack up the rent once a year.

Under the previous B.C. Liberal government, the formula was set at two percent plus the rate of inflation. The NDP government under John Horgan dumped the surcharge, restricting rent increases to the inflation rate.

The province made the announcement two days after a ban on evictions was lifted for nonpayment of rent. It applies for amounts owed on September 1 and each subsequent month.

The province has also ensured that landlords can collect all unpaid rent owed from previous months by July 1, 2021.