So-called “renovictions,” massive rent spikes and illegal suites were some of the concerns raised at a presentation for landlords and tenants Thursday night.
Legal advocates from North Shore Community Resources hosted the public event at the meeting room at the Squamish Public Library, attracting about 30 people.
NCSR’s Michelle Beda, who was joined by law student Rebecca Kantwerg, told the crowd that the presentation would focus more on renter’s rights because they, as advocates, represent tenants, not landlords.
The topic of renting has been a hot one lately, as many people new to Squamish struggle with finding a place to live that is affordable or face massive rent spikes once leases expire.
Beda outlined some of the key aspects of rental law found in two pieces of legislation: the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA)and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.
She concentrated primarily on the former, covering how to avoid and resolve disputes. Of the RTA, she said, “The intention why it was created was that it be accessible to lay people.”
She explained that the provisions cannot legally be excluded in an agreement and that they set limits on what landlords can do.
“They can’t just land on your door one day and say, ‘I need you to move out,’” she said.
The RTA also sets out details around rent increases, security deposits, repairs, condition when moving out, guests, locks and landlord access. Both acts also establish dispute resolution processes.
Some people asked about fixed-term leases and what happens at the end of the term.
“There’s nothing that prevents the parties from renegotiating another lease,” Beda replied.
She noted that fixed-term leases that do not convert to month-to-month rental require a new lease, and there is confusion around what is considered a reasonable rent increase. Renters choosing to challenge large increases may face uncertainty over the outcome.
“That’s a bit of a grey area, and it kind of depends on the dispute resolution officer you get,” she said.
Beda added these disputes are becoming a more prominent issue.
One person asked what happens in the absence of a written rental agreement. Beda responded that lease agreements serve as tenancy agreements but that even in cases where agreements are verbal, the provisions still apply, although the agreement may be harder to prove in the event of a dispute.
“Even if there isn’t a written agreement, you should still be covered,” she said.
Beda also emphasized the need to read documents carefully and make sure any corrections or amendments are noted early to reduce the chance of a dispute.
“This sounds like really basic information, and it is,” she said.
Other topics of discussion included the growth of suites that are technically illegal but which some municipalities ignore as long are no complaints or safety concerns, as well as the conditions under which tenants can be evicted so that owners can redevelop rental spaces – so-called renovictions. As Beda said, landlords are not supposed to evict people for convenience and that they have to go through with the work for which they are evicting tenants.
“These kinds of evictions are often arguable,” she said.
