Improved Security For Tenants Facing Eviction

VICTORIA — The NDP government has introduced legislation to better protect tenants forced out of their rental homes or by so-called renovictions.

Under the proposed changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords evicting a tenant to demolish or renovate a unit would have to pay more compensation when a renovation doesn’t happen and would have to give tenants of multi-unit buildings right of first refusal to a renovated unit.

The Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act is also being updated to increase compensation if a manufactured home can’t be moved when a tenant is evicted from a park or when a landlord gives notice of a land conversion that never ends up happening.

Housing Minister Selina Robinson says the changes — expected to be finalized in the fall — are part of the government’s plan for a more secure and affordable housing market.