Task force says base B.C. rent hikes on inflation, same as in Manitoba, Ontario

VANCOUVER – A task force examining the heated issue of annual rent increases that are permitted in British Columbia has recommended the hikes be reduced and tied only to inflation.

Task force chairman and NDP member of the legislature Spencer Chandra Herbert says the province should scrap the current model of calculating rent increases which allows landlords an annual hike of two per cent plus the inflation rate.

The recommendations also call on the government to require landlords to apply for additional rent increases if they can prove maintenance and other costs can’t be covered by the inflation-based increase alone.

Chandra Herbert says the recommendations are based on a model that is successfully used in Ontario and Manitoba.