The province's rent freeze is set to expire at the end of 2021, but landlords must give their tenants notice before they increase the monthly cost.
Oh, and they are limited to how much they can hike the rent.
As of Jan. 1, 2022, B.C. landlords may increase rent by a maximum of 1.5 per cent, based on inflation, explains a news release.
But that hasn’t stopped some Burnaby landlords from trying to pull a fast one on their tenants.
I was put in touch with a 79-year-old Burnaby renter who says she was told by her landlord that a rent hike of 8.1 per cent was allowed. That’s, of course, not true and I told this tenant that landlords are limited to 1.5 per cent.
“Well, they are just lying to me then,” said the renter. “They think because I’m old that I won’t check what they say. This just makes my blood boil. I’ve been a good tenant to them over the years. I’m quiet and always pay on time. I understand that they must be frustrated that COVID-19 has changed things, but to try this is just wrong.”
The feisty local senior is now putting something in writing warning that if they try to gouge her that she will fight it and has the backing of the B.C. government.
This increase cannot take effect prior to Jan. 1, 2022. If landlords choose to increase rent, they must provide a full three months’ notice to tenants using the correct notice of rent increase form.
The Burnaby renter says she was told the rent hike was due Feb. 1, which is not right because they haven’t given her enough notice.
Prior to the change, the maximum rent increases could include an additional 2 per cent on top of inflation.
B.C. landlords may only increase once annually, if they choose to increase rent at all.
In 2021, B.C. banned illegal renovictions (evictions to complete renovations to a property) by requiring landlords to apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch for pre-approval before ending a tenancy.
Quick Facts:
- If a landlord served a tenant with a notice of rent increase that takes effect in 2021, it is null and void and the tenant does not have to pay it.
- The maximum allowable rent increase is defined by the 12-month average per cent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for B.C. ending in July the year prior to the calendar year for which a rent increase takes effect.
- For example, if a rent increase takes effect in 2022, the maximum allowable rent increase is the 12-month average per cent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for B.C. ending in July 2021.
- The 2022 maximum increase for manufactured home park tenancies will be 1.5%, plus a proportional amount for the change in local government levies and regulated utility fees.
- The rent increase does not include commercial tenancies, non-profit housing tenancies where rent is geared to income, co-operative housing and some assisted-living facilities.
- With additional reporting by Elana Shepert, Vancouver is Awesome
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
