Rental Housing Task Force
On this page:
Overview
Who: The Rental Housing Task Force
What: Feedback to inform modernization of B.C.’s tenancy laws
Where: Province-wide
Why: To provide security and fairness to renters and housing providers
How: Online, In-person
Engagement summary
Premier John Horgan appointed a Rental Housing Task Force to advise on how to improve security and fairness for renters and rental housing providers throughout the province.
The Rental Housing Task Force wanted to better understand what further changes may be needed to modernize B.C.’s tenancy laws. Their engagement work included talking to the public, rental housing providers, renters and other stakeholders on their views and experiences with current tenancy laws and processes.
The task force is also reviewing B.C.’s existing laws and how they apply to different housing situations, and looking at innovative approaches in other jurisdictions.
This work will allow the task force to identify options to improve security and fairness for both renters and rental housing providers, while addressing the challenges of affordability.
Results
- 18,308 visits to the Rental Housing Task Force Engagement site
- 788 people attended 11 community meetings around the province
- 1,431 comments were received on the online discussion
- 58 organizational submissions were received
- 348 email comments were received
In December 2018, the Rental Housing Task Force presented its final report (PDF, 10MB) and recommendations for potential ways to modernize the policies and the laws that govern residential tenancy in B.C. to Premier John Horgan and Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Early recommendations (PDF, 300KB) on British Columbia’s annual allowable rent increase led to government action cutting the increase by 2%, limiting it to inflation.
Government has been taking actions to increase public education and bolster enforcement to better protect the rights of both renters and landlords as well as new funding for community rent banks.
Further action, including work that requires legislative changes, additional resources, stakeholder consultations or policy work is also underway.
Renters and landlords are invited to find out how renting in B.C. is changing.
Stakeholder submissions
The Task Force heard from stakeholders through in-person meetings and written submissions. Input was received from a range of organizations representing the interests of renters, rental housing providers, mobile home owners and park owners, and local governments.
Read the written submissions from stakeholders:
A diverse range of stakeholders representing renters’ interests provided submissions, including organizations which advocate for renters, health and safety, and pets. Stakeholders advocated for improved protections for renters, including but not limited to limiting rental increases, ending unfair or illegal evictions, preventing discrimination, and allowing pets in rental units.
The list below shows the stakeholders representing renters who submitted input through this process, with links to their full submission.
- Access Pro Bono (PDF, 200KB)
- BC ACORN (PDF, 60KB)
- BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (PDF, 750KB)
- BC Poverty Reduction Coalition (PDF, 200KB)
- BC SPCA (PDF, 200KB)
- BC Student Housing Working Group (PDF, 150KB)
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (PDF, 2MB)
- CARST (PDF, 1MB)
- Clean Air Coalition of BC (PDF, 250KB)
- Community Legal Assistance Society (PDF, 1MB)
- Nelson CARES – The Advocacy Centre (PDF, 200KB)
- Office of the Seniors Advocate (PDF, 650KB)
- Gerald Rotering (PDF, 70KB)
- Lancaster Gate Apartments (PDF, 150KB)
- Langley Seniors Community Action Table (PDF, 2MB)
- Pets OK BC (PDF, 47MB)
- Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada (PDF, 150KB)
- Regional Animal Protection Society (PDF, 2MB)
- Renters At Risk (PDF, 700KB)
- Tenant Resource Advisory Centre (PDF, 100KB)
- Together Against Poverty Society (PDF, 150KB)
- United Food and Commercial Workers Union (PDF, 250KB)
- Vancouver Tenants Union (PDF, 300KB)
- Vancouver Tenants Union – Summary of Recommendations (PDF, 1MB)
- Victoria Tenant Action Group (PDF, 300KB)
Stakeholders representing the interests of rental housing providers were also diverse, including both non-profit and for-profit housing providers, builders’ associations and advocacy groups. Submissions advocated for clarity and balance between the rights of renters and rental housing providers; allowing rent increases and damage deposits that aligned with costs; and improving the evictions processes, including reintroducing a vacate clause. Rental housing providers also supported increasing the rental supply, including incentivizing rentals, reducing restrictions on secondary suites, and reducing property tax burden on rental housing providers.
The list below shows the stakeholders representing rental housing providers who submitted input through this process, with links to their full submission.
- Anthem Properties (PDF, 300KB)
- BC Non-Profit Housing Association (PDF, 900KB)
- BC Real Estate Association (PDF, 250KB)
- Belmont Properties (PDF, 200KB)
- Canadian Home Builders Association of BC (PDF, 100KB)
- Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association British Columbia (PDF, 200KB)
- Condominium Home Owners Association (PDF, 100KB)
- Greater Victoria Housing Society (PDF, 40KB)
- Hollyburn Properties Limited (PDF, 1MB)
- LandlordBC (PDF, 250KB)
- Professional Association of Managing Agents (PDF, 100KB)
- QuadReal Property Group (PDF, 100KB)
- REALPAC (PDF, 200KB)
- Redbrick Properties (PDF, 2MB)
- The Pacific Investment Corporation Limited (PDF, 250KB)
- The Revill Group (PDF, 500KB)
- Unique Real Estate Accommodations (PDF, 70KB)
- Urban Development Institute (PDF, 30KB)
Stakeholders representing the interests of manufactured home owners and park owners felt that the current legislative context does not reflect the reality that manufactured home owners are both home owners and renters, and that the success of a park is a shared investment between the park owner and manufactured home owners. Home owners advocated for rent increases based on demonstrated actual cost increases; more time to vacate following an eviction; and more control over the assignment and subletting of rental pads, reflecting the nature of a manufactured home as an investment. Park owners advocated for allowing rent increases that reflect their costs and updating the tenancy assignment provisions in the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act to reflect those in the Residential Tenancy Act.
The list below shows the stakeholders representing manufactured home owners and park owners who submitted input through this process, with links to their full submission.
- Active Manufactured Home Owners Association (PDF, 300KB)
- Manufactured Home Park Owners Association (PDF, 80KB)
- Omineca Mobile Home Park (PDF, 500KB)
- Surrey Active Manufactured Home Owners Association (PDF, 50KB)
Several submissions were received from government representatives. These submissions discussed the impact the rental crisis was having on B.C. communities and offered recommendations for increasing housing supply, reducing unfair evictions and supporting displaced renters. These can be found at the links below.
- Bowinn Ma, MLA (PDF, 400KB)
- City of Vancouver (PDF, 800KB)
- George Heyman, MLA (PDF, 500KB)
- Trustee Tony Law, Hornby Island (PDF, 250KB)
- UBCM (PDF, 4MB)
- Village of Queen Charlotte (PDF, 40KB)
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