Provincial government announces rental support, landlord restrictions, and an eviction moratorium

The provincial government announced a temporary $500 per month rental supplement for renters in BC today along with other rental-related measures in response to the COVID-19 situation in the province. 

The rental supplement will be available to low-to-moderate income renters who have lost income due to the COVID-19 crisis and will be paid directly to landlords through BC Housing.   

The announced measures also:   

• Halt evictions by ensuring landlords can’t issue new notices to end tenancy for any reason, except in situations where it may be needed to protect health and safety, or to prevent undue damage to the property. 
• Halt enforcement of existing eviction notices, except in extreme cases where there are safety concerns. 
• Freeze annual rent increases during the state of emergency starting April 1. 
• Prevent landlords from accessing rental units without the tenant’s consent except in situations where it may be needed to protect health and safety, or to prevent undue damage to the property. 
• Restrict the ways that landlords and renters can serve notices. 
• Allow landlords to restrict their tenants and guests from using common areas.  

With government putting these measures into place, several questions have been raised relating to tenant occupied properties during COVID-19, such as policies around accountabilities, processes and procedures as they relate to landlords, property owners and tenants.

Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is working closely with BCREA and other real estate Boards in BC, as well as with the Deputy Minister of Housing, our province’s residential tenancy branch, and various levels of government to seek clarity around the questions that have been raised.