Surrey Tenants Face Steep Rent Increases Due To Tenancy Act Full Of Loopholes
SURREY – Tenants of the Cedartree Village apartments in Surrey are facing steep rent increases because the Residential Tenancy Act loopholes have been ignored by the Campbell government, said New Democrats.
"Renters across B.C. have faced devastating rent increases thanks to a Residential Tenancy Act full of 
Harry Bainsloopholes," said Harry Bains , MLA for Surrey-Newton. "And now Surrey residents, many of whom are on limited or fixed incomes, are the latest victims."
Bains and New Democrat housing critic Shane Simpson met with tenants in the Cedartree Village on Tuesday who were told an application has been made to raise their rent by as much as 52 per cent. The notice cited section 23 and 43 of the Residential Tenancy Act, which allows landlords to apply for increases above the province's legal limit under the auspice of playing catch-up to high rents in the geographic vicinity.
"The Campbell government is fully aware of the dwindling stock of affordable housing yet they are doing nothing to protect it," said Bains. "New Democrats have called for a review of the act that has allowed renters to be evicted and face outrageous increases time and time again."
Shane SimpsonSimpson said the Campbell government has been told numerous times by the New Democrats, tenant advocates and others about the glaring inequities that geographic rent increases and renovation evictions cause.
"Unfortunately they have ignored these concerns," said Simpson. “If the Campbell government had any commitment to fairness in the landlord/tenant relationship they would bring legislative changes in this fall to close the loopholes."
Tresa Alkins, a single mom who lives in Cedartree Village said she cannot afford a steep rent increase.
"Thanks to the exploitation of a glaring loophole, my daughter and I may be out on the pavement trying to find a new place to live," said Alkins. "Gordon Campbell is helping greedy people take advantage of people like me by allowing the loopholes to be exploited."
