British Columbia: The B-C government is making changes to rental laws to stop property owners from raising rent when tenants bring a new baby or any child under the age of 19 into their home.
If passed, the laws will prohibit landlords from increasing rent just because a child has been added to a household, even if the tenancy agreement says rent will increase when there’s a new occupant.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says people on fixed incomes, including seniors, can be at risk of homelessness if they are forced out of their low-rent units and have to search for a new place.
Legislation tabled by the government yesterday would force the landlord to live in the unit for a year before listing it for rent again and also ban evictions for personal use in purpose-built rental buildings, like seniors buildings, that have five or more units.
(The Canadian Press)