The most recent changes to the Residential Tenancies Program were made after listening to feedback from tenants and landlords to help provide more clarity for landlords and strengthen tenant protections. The provincial government has introduced these changes and I want you to be aware of them
These changes took effect on February 3rd and include:
- Landlords can now raise rent on a date other than the anniversary of a lease being signed
- They cannot raise rent more than once in a 12-month period and must continue to give at least four months’ notice before rent can be raised
- The temporary two per cent rent cap remains in place for tenants renewing a residential lease or signing a fixed-term lease for the same unit
- Landlords cannot charge tenants different amounts for different rental terms; for example, they can’t charge different amounts for a year-to-year, month-to-month or fixed-term lease
- A lease can be terminated if a tenant sublets a unit without the landlord’s permission
- Landlords are now also required to give a tenant 24 hours’ notice before entering the unit, even if the tenant has given notice to end the lease
- Landlords can only enter a unit without notice if there is an emergency