BC Rental Housing

B-C New Democrats are increasing public education and bolstering enforcement to better protect the rights of both renters and landlords. The actions mark the first phase of addressing recommendations from a rental housing task force that aimed to improve security and fairness in the province’s often tight market. The Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry says in a news release that enhanced public education will be supported through new funding to Landlord BC and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre. The ministry says education will focus on rules around so-called renovictions to help clarify the many situations when ending a tenancy could be unnecessary or illegal, and the limited situations when a rental unit needs to be vacant for renovations. It also says the province has created a new compliance and enforcement unit within the Residential Tenancy Branch to investigate complaints and take action against landlords and renters who are repeat or serious offenders. A new local government liaison position has also been created within the branch to help resolve issues that involve a role for both local government and the branch, such as illegal renovictions and demovictions.