Rental Housing Task Force
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.
Engagement Timeframe
May 28 to July 6, 2018
Input Received
- 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
Input leads to action:
In December 2018, the Rental Housing Task Force presented its final reportand 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 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.
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.