BC Government Declares COVID-19 Survival Tools for Residential Landlords and Tenants




As a consequence of the closure of numerous businesses, rising unemployment and the general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, it is anticipated that a number of residential tenants will not be able to pay rent or will request some rent relief from owners. In order to address this, on March 25, 2020, the Government of BC, Canada planned the following restrictions and relief measures for residential tenants and landlords in the region.


There is now an interim on removals with respect to residential tenancies. Any current notices to end a tenancy for the non-payment of rent, and any current orders of possession in favors of landlords from the Residential Tenancy Branch, are stayed. There are limitations to extreme cases where there are safety concerns. Distinctly, a small number of court-ordered evictions remain subject to variations of those orders by the courts.
Removals for cause are still possible, but a landlord may only evict a tenant for a cause in extreme cases where there are safety concerns.
Annual rent escalate are banned for the remainder of this current state of emergency.
A new rental subsidy of up to $500 per rental unit has been introduced. This subsidy will be paid over the next three months and will be paid directly to landlords through BC Housing. These funds will not be available for April 1, 2020, and eligibility and the application process have not been described in detail as of the date of this post.
Landlords will be able to restrict access to common areas in a shared building, like laundry rooms or games rooms, to help prevent gatherings that can spread the COVID-19 virus.
Landlords will be prevented from accessing rental units without the consent of the tenant, except in exceptional cases where it is needed to protect health and safety or to prevent undue damage to the unit.
It is expected that the Residential Tenancy Branch will continue to be the forum to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
As of March 25, 2020, the Government of Alberta is considering putting measures in place with respect to residential tenancies, but no measures have been announced as of the time of this post.


Alongside the new government relief measures, it is also important for residential landlords to keep the following in mind:


The Government of British Columbia has made it clear that tenants must still pay rent.
Landlords should encourage tenants experiencing financial difficulties to apply for other relief programs now being offered by the provincial and federal governments.
In British Columbia, the common law remedy of distraint is not available to recover arrears arising out of a residential tenancy.
If a residential tenant is not able to pay their full amount of rent, a landlord should keep track of the accruing arrears.
Landlords should be proactive in speaking with tenants who are experiencing financial difficulty to work towards forms of rent relief, that could include a lump sum or scheduled payments over time and as rent arrears continue to accrue. At this time, it is not clear how rent arrears will be treated or adjudicated by the Residential Tenancy Branch, once the state of emergency in British Columbia is lifted.
If you are looking for any kind of assistance regarding the rent feel free to contact real estate lawyer bcrealestatelaw.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Engineered and Cost-effective Kitchen Bechntops By Impala Kitchens

Image
If you're renovating or building a new kitchen and looking for superior quality benchtops to match your kitchen space, then Impala Kitchen Sydney, one of the leading suppliers of premium quality laminate and stone benchtops can help you. At Impala Kitchen Sydney, we supply and install a wide array of kitchen benchtops at cost-effective prices. We can help you to achieve your dream kitchen with elegant and durable benchtops that suit your preferences and budget. ENGINEERED STONE:  Engineered stone is a man-made product that was produced in the late 80s by a company called Breton. Breton fine-tuned this process and patented their technology. Engineered stone contains more than 94% natural quartz one of earth’s hardest minerals. This hard quartz matrix is bound with a polymer binding agent. There is then a range of other pigments and aggregates that will create different colors giving the finished product its rare beauty and uniqueness. Because of the properties...
Read more

5 Basic Tips for Kitchen Renovation sort of a Pro

Image
  Renovating a kitchen  are often  a time-consuming and stressful task. But once all the  diligence  is completed, now the time  to feature  your personal touch, making the kitchen uniquely yours  and style  your dreamy entertainment space.  Y ou  once you  are sure  you've got  a thought  of what  you're  trying  to realize, otherwise,  you'll  find yourself  with  tons  of “things” that don’t quite fit. Remember to think, color, form,  and performance. 1. Make the utilities look beautiful Everyone loves some pretty vases or decorative trays, but  this stuff  can quickly over-run a kitchen making the space feel cluttered.  You would like  to seem  for items  which will  be useful  also. A vase doesn’t  need to  wait around for fresh flowers but can work as a utensil holder or  rather than  collecting ugly...
Read more

Why is Kelowna the next favorite destination of luxury home builders?

Image
The Kelowna Valley is renowned for its laid-back lifestyle, with access to a ton of activities throughout all four seasons as well as cultural events, arts, and entertainment. There’s never a dull moment in Kelowna or the surrounding area, with concerts, ski hills, mountains, lakes, rivers, fishing, and more just outside your door. Regardless of which area of Kelowna you decide to move to, you’ll find easy access to all of these activities, and more. Within the Kelowna core, explore everything from galleries to fine dining, all within walking distance (or short ride) to beautiful Okanagan Lake. Parks and playgrounds abound for families while daredevils can enjoy summer watersports or a winter thrill ride on local mountains. There’s never a shortage of things to see or do throughout the year; as well as regular cultural events and celebrations for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you enjoy relaxing or discovering a new challenge, Kelowna has everything you need. The d...
Read more