Landlords react to the recommendations from the Rental Task Force

The all-party rental task force is out with 23 recommendations on how to improve the situation for renters in the province. Chair Spencer Chandra- Herbert presented the report - compiled from months of consultation - to housing minister Selina Robinson.  Recommendations include halting renovictions, improving fairness of dispute resolution at the tenancy branch and to ensure rent reductions if repairs are not done. The Minister is taking all recommendation under advisement. What she does with them next remains to be seen.

RECOMMENDATIONs:

1:  STOP RENOVICTIONS

2:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP TENANT COMPENSATION AND RELOCATION GUIDELINES IN THE CASE OF DEMOLITION OF PURPOSE-BUILT RENTAL TO REDUCE DISLOCATION, AND HOMELESSNESS OF AFFECTED TENANTS.

3:  SET A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR A TENANT’S DECISION ON THE USE OF A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  

4:  IMPLEMENT A B.C.-WIDE RENT BANK SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.

5:  STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR PROCESS FOR MAKING, INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY COMPLAINTS.  

6:  STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE LAW, INCLUDING REFUSAL OF SERVICE FOR OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

7:  INVESTIGATE WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO BAILIFF SERVICES IN SMALLER AND MORE REMOTE COMMUNITIES.

8:  INVESTIGATE OTHER OPTIONS TO INCREASE THE REPAYMENT RATE FOR DAMAGES, NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AND OTHER STORAGE COSTS IF ORDERED BY THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH.  

9:  INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CURRENTLY EMPTY STRATA HOUSING BY ELIMINATING A STRATA CORPORATION’S ABILITY TO BAN OWNERS FROM RENTING THEIR OWN STRATA UNITS.  

10:  MAINTAIN RENT TIED TO THE RENTER, NOT THE UNIT.

11:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES TO BETTER PROTECT LONG-TERM RENTAL STOCK.

12:  MAKE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH MORE RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND PROACTIVE WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM AND EDUCATE LANDLORDS AND RENTERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 13:  IMPROVE FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY OF THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARINGS PROCESS BY RECORDING ALL HEARINGS.  RECOMMENDATION

14:  IMPROVE PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS BY EXPANDING REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE MORE GROUNDS FOR REVIEW.

15:  REQUIRE LANDLORDS WHO ARE FILING FOR EVICTION FOR CAUSE, OR FOR RENOVATION, TO PROVIDE ALL EVIDENCE WITH ANY EVICTION NOTICE TO THE AFFECTED TENANTS

 16:  IF REPAIRS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A RENTAL HOME AND THE LANDLORD IS REFUSING TO MAKE THEM IN A TIMELY WAY, HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH PROACTIVELY REDUCE THE RENT OF AFFECTED TENANTS UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.

17:  ALLOW EMAIL AS A FORM OF NOTICE OF SERVICE BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANTS.

18:  SPEED UP THE RETURN OF DAMAGE DEPOSITS TO TENANTS BY ALLOWING TENANTS TO MAKE A DIRECT REQUEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH FOR THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT WHERE NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FOUND AND REPORTED BY THE LANDLORD.

19:  WORK WITH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO SEE IF RENT GUARANTEE INSURANCE, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO INSURANCE COVERAGE, MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR LANDLORDS IN B.C.

 20:  UNDERTAKE A REVIEW TO SIMPLIFY THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO A LANDLORD’S OBLIGATION TO STORE ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY.

21:  ENSURE IT IS CLEAR FOR ALL LANDLORDS AND RENTERS WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP FOR ALL FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL TENANCY  

22:  ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NON-PROFIT HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY ACT.

 23:  ENSURE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK RULES ARE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE. CLARIFY WHAT OCCURS WHEN PARK RULES CONFLICT WITH LEASE OR CONTRACT RULES.

Guest: David Hutniak

Landlord BC

 

The all-party rental task force is out with 23 recommendations on how to improve the situation for renters in the province. Chair Spencer Chandra- Herbert presented the report - compiled from months of consultation - to housing minister Selina Robinson.  Recommendations include halting renovictions, improving fairness of dispute resolution at the tenancy branch and to ensure rent reductions if repairs are not done. The Minister is taking all recommendation under advisement. What she does with them next remains to be seen.

RECOMMENDATIONs:

1:  STOP RENOVICTIONS

2:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP TENANT COMPENSATION AND RELOCATION GUIDELINES IN THE CASE OF DEMOLITION OF PURPOSE-BUILT RENTAL TO REDUCE DISLOCATION, AND HOMELESSNESS OF AFFECTED TENANTS.

3:  SET A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR A TENANT’S DECISION ON THE USE OF A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.  

4:  IMPLEMENT A B.C.-WIDE RENT BANK SYSTEM FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE.

5:  STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR PROCESS FOR MAKING, INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY COMPLAINTS.  

6:  STRENGTHEN PENALTIES FOR BREAKING THE LAW, INCLUDING REFUSAL OF SERVICE FOR OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES.

7:  INVESTIGATE WAYS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO BAILIFF SERVICES IN SMALLER AND MORE REMOTE COMMUNITIES.

8:  INVESTIGATE OTHER OPTIONS TO INCREASE THE REPAYMENT RATE FOR DAMAGES, NON-PAYMENT OF RENT AND OTHER STORAGE COSTS IF ORDERED BY THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH.  

9:  INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF CURRENTLY EMPTY STRATA HOUSING BY ELIMINATING A STRATA CORPORATION’S ABILITY TO BAN OWNERS FROM RENTING THEIR OWN STRATA UNITS.  

10:  MAINTAIN RENT TIED TO THE RENTER, NOT THE UNIT.

11:  WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE SHORT-TERM RENTAL RULES TO BETTER PROTECT LONG-TERM RENTAL STOCK.

12:  MAKE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH MORE RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE AND PROACTIVE WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM AND EDUCATE LANDLORDS AND RENTERS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 13:  IMPROVE FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY OF THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH DISPUTE RESOLUTION HEARINGS PROCESS BY RECORDING ALL HEARINGS.  RECOMMENDATION

14:  IMPROVE PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS BY EXPANDING REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE MORE GROUNDS FOR REVIEW.

15:  REQUIRE LANDLORDS WHO ARE FILING FOR EVICTION FOR CAUSE, OR FOR RENOVATION, TO PROVIDE ALL EVIDENCE WITH ANY EVICTION NOTICE TO THE AFFECTED TENANTS

 16:  IF REPAIRS ARE NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A RENTAL HOME AND THE LANDLORD IS REFUSING TO MAKE THEM IN A TIMELY WAY, HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH PROACTIVELY REDUCE THE RENT OF AFFECTED TENANTS UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED.

17:  ALLOW EMAIL AS A FORM OF NOTICE OF SERVICE BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANTS.

18:  SPEED UP THE RETURN OF DAMAGE DEPOSITS TO TENANTS BY ALLOWING TENANTS TO MAKE A DIRECT REQUEST TO THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY BRANCH FOR THE DAMAGE DEPOSIT WHERE NO DAMAGE HAS BEEN FOUND AND REPORTED BY THE LANDLORD.

19:  WORK WITH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO SEE IF RENT GUARANTEE INSURANCE, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO INSURANCE COVERAGE, MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR LANDLORDS IN B.C.

 20:  UNDERTAKE A REVIEW TO SIMPLIFY THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO A LANDLORD’S OBLIGATION TO STORE ABANDONED PERSONAL PROPERTY.

21:  ENSURE IT IS CLEAR FOR ALL LANDLORDS AND RENTERS WHERE TO GO TO GET HELP FOR ALL FORMS OF RESIDENTIAL TENANCY  

22:  ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF NON-PROFIT HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL TENANCY ACT.

 23:  ENSURE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK RULES ARE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE. CLARIFY WHAT OCCURS WHEN PARK RULES CONFLICT WITH LEASE OR CONTRACT RULES.

Guest: David Hutniak

Landlord BC