Dear Editor:
The B.C. government’s Residential Tenancy Act amendments will have unintended consequences. Private landlords will likely sell their properties or reduce their availability, rather than suffer a reduction of their rights.
Free-standing houses and condo suites will be sold. Units attached to owner residences will be rented to friends and family only.
While the present law has allowed some landlords to unfairly and unjustifiably increase rents, it has also allowed landlords such as myself to review at lease-end whether their relationship with their tenants was satisfactory. Chronic late payment of rent, failure to keep grounds and property clean and tidy, failure to report leaks and equipment failure in a timely way are all examples of circumstances that challenge landlords and that may lead to a decision not to offer a new lease.
The government would do better to publicize the potential jeopardy that renters expose themselves to by signing fixed-term leases with move-out clauses. Redesigning the standard lease form so that these details are in very large bold print with an explanatory caution may be another. The government could also establish a registry of landlords against whom complaints of egregious exploitation have been made.
If the amendments are passed, there will be fewer private landlords and less choice in the rental market. Average rents will go up as commercial providers, with management costs rather than sweat inputs, have a larger share of a smaller market.
William Caulfield
North Vancouver
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