B.1

MOTION ON NOTICE

The following motion was submitted by Councillor Stevenson for consideration at the regular Council meeting on January 13, 2004. Councillor Sullivan called Notice under Section 5.4 (c) of the Procedure By-law.

1. Changes to the Residential Tenancy Act negatively affecting tenants

MOVED by Councillor Stevenson
SECONDED by Councillor

WHEREAS the majority or 56% of Vancouver residents rent their homes;

AND WHEREAS almost half of these households currently pay more than 30% of their income on rent, and almost one-quarter pay more than 50%;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver has among the highest rents (2003 = $845) and tightest vacancy rates (2003 = 1.7%) in Canada;

AND WHEREAS the provincial government recently implemented a number of changes to the Residential Tenancy Act that will negatively impact tenants;

AND WHEREAS one of the most significant changes is to rent regulations which will now allow landlords to automatically increase rents at CPI + 2% (2004 =
4.6%) without any ability by tenants to dispute the increase, whether or not the building is maintained;

AND WHEREAS this automatic rent increase will adversely affect many tenants, especially seniors, single parents, people with disabilities, recent immigrants and others living on fixed or low incomes;

AND WHEREAS Vancouver is already suffering from the consequences of other changes to provincial policy that have increased homelessness and the demand for city services and resources;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Vancouver write to the Premier and Solicitor General to register strong concern to changes to the Residential Tenancy Act that will negatively impact tenants, and in particular low income and vulnerable tenants.

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