B.C. gov’t boasts changes loosening rules for landlords

The B.C. government is introducing new regulations, generally making things easier on landlords.

Beginning in summer, the new regulations will loosen the requirements for when a landlord must notify a tenant about taking over the property for personal use.

The notice period is going down from four months to just three months’ advance notice.

“This change makes notice periods consistent and aligns with the recent change requiring homebuyers to give tenants three months’ notice of eviction,” the province said.

Also beginning in summer, the Residential Tenancy Branch will begin publishing monetary orders that arise from dispute resolution hearings.

The province says publishing the orders that cover renter issues like not paying for rent or utilities and landlord issues like illegal evictions and failing to maintain living conditions will help with transparency and consistency between other tribunals.

Effective Wednesday, new regulations also lessen the responsibility for landlords to hold onto property abandoned by tenants. The minimum value of the property is increasing from $500 to $1,000, and landlords only have to store the items for 30 days — down from 60 days.

The province says the “improvements” have been funded through a $15.6-million investment to enhance services at the Residential Tenancy Branch.

“Instead of waiting nearly three months for a hearing to resolve disputes for unpaid rent and utilities, these hearings are being heard in approximately a month. Among Canada’s provinces and territories, B.C. is now a national leader for low wait times for dispute-resolution hearings,” said a release Tuesday.

The province says it’s also equipping landlords with new, easy-to-access guides, including on how to “collect on money owed or enforce an eviction,” and a toolkit to better navigate hearings.

—With files from Raynaldo Suarez