National

B.C. caps allowable rent increases at 3.5 per cent, 2 points lower than inflation

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Sep, 2023 01:10 PM

The British Columbia government has set the allowable rent increase for next year at 3.5 per cent.

The rate is more than two percentage points below the 12-month average inflation rate of 5.6 per cent.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says in a statement that costs have been increasing, especially for housing, at a rate that's unsustainable for many people, and this increase is a balance to protect renters, while keeping units on the market.

The increase can be effective on or after Jan. 1, 2024.

Opening 58 new homes with @MableElmore under a co-operative model that secures residents ongoing affordable housing with below market rates.

We know there is more work to do - but today we ensured 58+ more seniors in Vancouver have increased access to housing in their community. pic.twitter.com/na3JdDnGmP
— Ravi Kahlon (@KahlonRav) September 11, 2023

The government says landlords must provide three months' notice to tenants and they are only allowed to hike the rent once a year.

Before 2018, the annual allowable rent increase was based on inflation plus two per cent, a freeze was put in place during the pandemic and then the province set rent increases at two per cent for this year.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Suspect charged in Cenotaph mischief

A 42-year-old man has been charged with mischief over an incident at the Cloverdale Cenotaph in Surrey more than five months ago. R-C-M-P say the suspect was arrested on July 18th over an incident in which the cenotaph's statue of a kneeling soldier was dismantled.

Suspect charged in Cenotaph mischief

Canadian evacuees tell of chaotic scenes in Maui wildfire 'war zone'

Canadians returning from Maui have told of harrowing scenes during their escape from the fire-devastated Hawaiian island. Among the evacuees was British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Matthew Taylor who drove through the ruined town of Lahaina on Thursday and said it resembled a "war zone."

Canadian evacuees tell of chaotic scenes in Maui wildfire 'war zone'

BC midwives and Province agree on 3 year wage increasing agreement

The new deal includes a series of fee increases and measures that the province says will provide more supports for Indigenous midwifery. A vote among members of the Midwives Association of British Columbia on July 31 garnered 99 per cent support for the agreement, with 89 per cent of eligible association members taking part in the ballot.

BC midwives and Province agree on 3 year wage increasing agreement

Harjot Singh Samra wanted Canada wide

Harjot Singh Samra, 27, was to report to his halfway house in Vancouver once he was released from prison yesterday, but failed to do so. Samra is 5’9″, weighs 252 pounds, and has a heavy build. He has brown/black hair with a balding hairline, and brown eyes.

Harjot Singh Samra wanted Canada wide

Collision between fuel truck and train in northern Alberta

Emergency crews are at the scene of a collision between a fuel truck and a train in northern Alberta. RCMP say its officers received a report of the collision on Highway 43, near the junction of Highway 32, in Whitecourt, which is located about 180 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Collision between fuel truck and train in northern Alberta

Feds to provide wildfire update

Officials have already said Canada is experiencing its worst fire season on record, charring more than 130,000 square kilometres to date, which is more than six times the 10-year average. Natural Resources Canada said last week there were more than 650 fires burning across Canada, about two-thirds of them in B.C.