Vancouver West End renters shocked by proposed monthly increase to rent
Chad Pawson | CBC News | Posted: March 13, 2017 2:25 AM | Last Updated: March 13, 2017
Local MLA says landlords taking advantage of legislation allowing them to match prices to high rents in area
Darlene Lofgren has lived in a two-storey walk-up apartment in Vancouver's West End for the past 17 years, but now she's worried if she'll be able to afford to stay in her one-bedroom apartment much longer.
Last month her property manager — Martello Property Services — informed her that her next rent increase will be a big one, an increase of $500 on the $1150 she already pays.
Lofgren says as a renter in B.C. she is used to yearly increases, which cannot exceed the inflation rate plus two per cent as part of the Residential Tenancy Act and Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.
"The cap, you get used to that, but not 43 per cent, that's insane," she said.
All 11 long-term tenants in the building received the same notice, with increases varying between 16 and 43 per cent.
Local MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert says the hike is another example of a landlord using a geographic increase clause in the Residential Tenancy Act.
"Because the landlord says there are other units in the neighbourhood that they say are renting for more," he said, explaining how a landlord can argue that they should be able to charge more if other nearby rents are higher.
Chandra-Herbert has campaigned on having the clause repealed as he says up to 80 per cent of West End residents are renters.
"The landlord has not put anything extra into the building, the tenant hasn't seen a massive income increase," he said.
"So really what you're seeing is if the landlord succeeds in their attempted rent increases, some of the residents of this building could be forced out."
That sobering thought brings tears to the eyes of Amanda Burke, who has lived in the building since 2007 and now has two children with her husband there.
Chandra-Herbert says the Liberal government needs to do more to protect renters.
"We're in a rental crisis, and we need to treat it as such," he said. "They've talked about a housing crisis but are completely ignoring renters."
The tenants from the building on Harwood Street have appealed the increase with the Residential Tenancy Branch and have a meeting on April 18.
CBC News asked for a response from the landlord, but has yet to hear back.
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With files from Deborah Goble