Some B.C. landlords asking tenants for out-of-bounds rent increases, imply eviction

Linda de Gonzalez is not surprised some tenants in British Columbia are still being asked by their landlords to agree to double-digit rent hikes or else have their unit sold and the new owner kick them out so they or their immediate family can move in.

The Globe and Mail reported on the conflict at her Surrey building a year ago. Since then, the tactic of pressing tenants to accept huge rent increases has remained a perfectly legal win-win for landlords: If they get written permission, they can raise rent well above the legal limit. Spooked renters intermittently ask for advice on social media on how to handle these requests for huge spikes in their rent, but British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Branch says it can’t track these cases because people hardly ever lodge an official complaint.

If a tenant complains to the RTB about landlord pressure to renegotiate rent, the agency typically can’t do much if the renter agrees to it. But, the tribunal said in a statement, it could be considered harassment if an owner is continually putting pressure on their existing tenants and renters should always contact its weekday hotline if they’re having issues.

Mr. Jurinak said he believes many landlords won’t reinvest in their properties because they don’t have the “excess cash flow anymore like they maybe once did.” In this environment, he said, tenants are going to start noticing buildings aren’t being maintained to the same standard they were before the pandemic.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

B.C. moves to cap rent hikes for those in Vancouver's Downtown EastsideVANCOUVER — The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would allow the City of Vancouver to limit rent increases for new tenants in its poorest...
Source: YahooFinanceCA - 🏆 47. / 63 Read more »

B.C. moves to cap rent hikes for those in Vancouver's Downtown EastsideVANCOUVER — The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would allow the City of Vancouver to limit rent increases for new tenants in its poorest neighbourhood, the Downtown Eastside.
Source: SooToday - 🏆 8. / 85 Read more »

B.C. legislation aims to curtail rent increases on SRO units in VancouverThe move is an effort to grant the city unique powers after two court cases over the past two years concluded the city couldn’t pass such rules on its own
Source: globeandmail - 🏆 5. / 92 Read more »

B.C. clears way for rent caps on Vancouver’s Downtown EastsideLegislation allows city to limit rent increases in its poorest neighbourhood
Source: TerraceStandard - 🏆 24. / 68 Read more »