Rental Protection & Tenant Rights Act
Category: Housing — Housing
Summary
Strengthen rent controls, require landlord registration, and establish a fast-track tribunal for disputes.
What this proposal changes
- Extends rent control to apply to the unit, not the tenancy — eliminating vacancy decontrol that currently allows unlimited rent increases between tenants.
- Establishes a mandatory BC Landlord Registry requiring all residential landlords to register and disclose ownership and rent history.
- Creates a 30-day fast-track tribunal process for urgent tenant applications, including unlawful evictions and maintenance emergencies.
- Grants tenants a right of first refusal to repurchase or re-rent their unit if a landlord exits the rental market.
Arguments for
- Vacancy decontrol is the primary mechanism through which rent controls have been circumvented in BC; unit-level control closes the most significant loophole.
- A landlord registry enables enforcement of existing obligations and provides tenants with accurate information about their rights.
- Fast-track tribunal access addresses the current situation where unlawful evictions often take months to resolve.
Arguments against
- Unit-level rent control significantly reduces the financial return on new rental construction, potentially deterring future supply.
- Landlord registration requirements impose administrative burdens on small-scale landlords who own one or two units.
- Right of first refusal is difficult to administer and may deter legitimate owner-occupier transitions.
Cost & implementation
Landlord Registry system: $15–25 million capital plus $5–10 million annually. Tribunal expansion: $20–40 million annually. Economic modelling of rent control effects on new supply is contested.
Jurisdiction & legal authority
Residential tenancy regulation is fully within provincial jurisdiction under the Residential Tenancy Act. The BC Residential Tenancy Branch currently administers disputes.
How to vote
Visit cascadia.vote/questions/pnwc-A18 to cast your vote: Yes, No, or Maybe.
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