NEWS: More Renovictions, What Next For Renters?

“Extreme rent increases or the threat of losing your home due to renovations that are really market-driven evictions in disguise are here to stay – for now,” said Renters-at-Risk spokesperson Sharon Isaak. “The setbacks of the past month mean that BC renters continue to live in fear. Affordable housing advocates must continue their efforts pressing all levels ofgovernment for solutions, immediately.”

The first setback came in late April when the Residential Tenancy Office (RTO) slapped a group of West End tenants with rent increases of up to 38 per cent – nearly $500 a month over-and-above existing lease agreements. For 82-year-old Roland McFall and his 93-year-old sister Mary who've lived in the Seafield Apartment building for 48 years, their housing costs will now jump by nearly $6,000 a year.

The Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) allows landlords to raise residential rents by 3.7 per cent annually. But landlords can apply for an additional increase if they can prove the increase will put their units on par with a geographic area’s current market rents. As well, landlords can evict tenants under the pretext of renovations, and re-rent the spruced up suites for much higher rents – a practice known as “renoviction”.

According to the 12-page Seafield ruling, landlords are allowed to raise the rent in three increments, with three months notice in between each increase. The ruling goes on to note that the Seafield’s landlords didn't have to prove rents are significantly lower than all comparable apartments in the West End, but merely prove there are two or more nearby units with higher rents. The Seafield tenants are appealing the ruling at BC Supreme Court.

A second setback came with the provincial election on May 12. Renters missed an opportunity to elect more MLAs who would support rental reform. The re-election of the BC Liberal government has dampened hopes for changes to the RTA.

“During the election campaign, BC Liberal candidate Laura McDiarmid (Vancouver-West End) described the Seafield ruling as ‘a win for these tenants,’ said Isaak. “McDiarmid lost in the West End because residents here understand the Liberals do not support rental reform and renters used the power of the ballot box to elect a candidate who does. That was not the case in other ridings across the city and BC.”

“Renters-at-Risk has presented solutions to the BC Liberals to curb rental abuses, but Minister Rich Coleman told us recently it is not necessary to change the Act,” said Isaak. “Even more troubling is the news that BC Housing is working with the BC Apartment Owners Association and Momac Consulting to put on seminars instructing landlords how to raise rents above the yearly allowable amounts.”

“Despite these setbacks, there is a new sense of urgency to step up the fight for renters rights across the city,” said Isaak. “Over 50 per cent of Vancouver citizens rent. We know this problem is only going to get worse as we draw nearer to the Olympics.”

“Last week, 22 remaining tenants at the Berkeley Apartments in the West End were hit with renoviction notices which will force them out of their homes by July 31,” said Isaak. “Thankfully, the City is doing something to combat the rental problem by initiating an eviction ban until after the 2010 Games and a tenants’ registry.”

And what happens after the Olympics? Vancouver still faces a serious challenge when it comes to meeting the demand for low-and middle-income rental housing.

“Forced mass displacement to the suburbs is not the solution to Vancouver’s affordable housing crisis,” said Isaak. “For the next three years, city council has the opportunity to enlist renters in the fight to secure long-term housing solutions.”