B.C. extends rental support for tenants and landlords

The B.C. government is extending the temporary rental supplement until the end of August 2020 to support renters and landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The temporary rental supplement (TRS) program provides $500 per month for eligible households with dependents and $300 per month for eligible households with no dependents. Eligible roommates are also able to apply for the supplement.

People who have already been approved for the TRS do not need to reapply, the government said in its announcement of the extension Friday. They will receive an email asking them to confirm they plan to live at the same address through July and August.

New applications will be accepted until Aug. 31 and will be eligible for a supplement for the month they are received.

"COVID-19 has touched all aspects of our lives and our economy," Housing Minister Selina Robinson said in a statement.

"We're continuing to protect renters as we also ensure landlords are receiving some income during this time."

The government also said the ban on evictions for reasons other than non-payment of rent will be lifted later in June.

That will allow evictions in situations where, for example, a new owner buys the rental property and intends to move in or when a tenant is endangering the landlord or other tenants or subletting an apartment without permission, the province said.

Evictions in such situations will require a notice period of one to four months. 

The province said it would provide advance notice before lifting the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent. Tenants will be responsible for repaying any owed rent, the statement read, but a framework will be put in place to give tenants time to repay owed rent.

Since the supplement was announced, the province said, 82,500 eligible applications for rent assistance have been submitted.