The BC Government’s Rental Housing Task Force will tour the province in June 2018, stopping in 10 communities, including Vancouver and Surrey to hear from British Columbians.
The task force is leading a review to modernize and balance provincial tenancy laws to provide safe, secure and affordable housing, focussing on both renters and rental housing providers. You and your clients have the opportunity to provide feedback by attending a public meeting, emailing comments or sharing ideas online.
The task force will take an in-depth look at the issues and challenges facing renters and landlords, as well as owners of manufactured homes and home park operators. It will work throughout the summer to better understand what further changes may be needed to modernize BC’s tenancy laws, including:
- Consulting with the public, rental housing providers, renters, manufactured homeowners, manufactured home park owners and other stakeholders on their views and experiences with current tenancy laws and processes;
- Identifying options to improve security and fairness for both renters and rental housing providers, while addressing the challenges of affordability;
- A review of the existing laws and how they apply to different housing models; and
- Reviewing innovative approaches in other jurisdictions.
There will be public meetings in Metro Vancouver on the following dates:
Vancouver:
- Wednesday, June 27
- 6 pm to 9 pm
- SFU Wosk Conference Centre
- 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
- register here
Surrey:
- Thursday, June 28
- 6 pm to 9 pm
- Bridgeview Community Centre
- 11475 126A Street, Surrey
- register here
Other ways to provide your input:
- Review background information and join discussions on the online engagement site: engage.gov.bc.ca/rentalhousingtaskforce
- Email your comments or questions to: rentalhousing.taskforce@gov.bc.ca
Note: BCREA is currently working on a written submission on behalf of all BC REALTORS®.
More information on the provincial government’s rental housing initiatives:
- To help renters, the Province is providing $116 million over three years to expand eligibility and increase the average benefits under the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) and Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER).
- The Province is investing $1.1 billion over 10 years to upgrade and improve existing subsidized rental housing throughout British Columbia. This investment will fund seismic and fire-safety upgrades and essential repairs and maintenance, making homes safer and more comfortable for residents.
- The Province is providing $6.8 million in new funding to the Residential Tenancy Branch, to reduce wait times for tenancy disputes, and to establish a new compliance unit to take action against landlords and tenants who are repeat or serious offenders.
- The Province will invest more than $7 billion over 10 years to build the kind of homes people need, in every corner of the province — urban, suburban, and rural.
- Read Homes for BC, the provincial government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians.