'Problematic' renters are abusing B.C.'s tenancy laws, landlord petition claims

[CdnFox]

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/problematic-renters-are-abusing-b-c-s-tenancy-laws-landlord-petition-claims-1.6615119

 

"We strongly believe and it is evident from various cases that current tenancy laws are being abused by far too many problematic tenants for their own advantage," the petition reads.

"These problematic tenants take advantage of outdated laws and create a chilling effect that discourages potential and existing landlords from renting out viable space and thereby depriving a vast number of renters of potential rental opportunities. In our view, tenancy law reform equals greater access to affordable housing for tenants."

[CdnFox]

This is a bc story, but it's a problem all across canada and one that is having a major impact.  I see if frequently.

Here's some of the prolbems:

Rules out there favor the tenant at the expense of the landlord

When inflation is low the law and most provinces demands that the rental increases be kept flow as well. When inflation is high, the government's past new laws to keep prices low for renters. So no matter what the landlord is screwed

Allowed rental increases do not reflect actual cost increases paid by landlords

It is almost impossible to stop renting your unit out to a bad tenant

During covid, the government forced landlords to allow people who are not even paying rent to stay rent-free in their places without compensation in most provinces. Landlords suddenly became the social safety net and bore all costs for this

 

When you look at it, why would anyone want to be a landlord? There's almost no protection, the laws are against you, the government May at any time decide you have to give free rent to people because reasons.

 

So the number of landlords is going to vanish, and the landlords that remain will charge absolutely astronomical insane rates to keep out Riff Raff and to make sure that if they get screwed over by the government they're making enough money for it to be worth it

[cougar]

11 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

This is a bc story, but it's a problem all across canada and one that is having a major impact.  I see if frequently.

Here's some of the prolbems:

 

I think there is only one problem called "unaffordability".

It is likely many are on the verge of becoming homeless.  Having those rules in place allows the non-paying tenants to still have a roof over their head at the expense of the (often very greedy and unreasonable) landlords.

[CdnFox]

9 minutes ago, cougar said:

I think there is only one problem called "unaffordability".

It is likely many are on the verge of becoming homeless.  Having those rules in place allows the non-paying tenants to still have a roof over their head at the expense of the (often very greedy and unreasonable) landlords.

And why should the landlords be responsible for that? Why are the landlords suddenly in charge of providing free social services?

So what happens btw - is that the smaller landlords who make up the majority of the rental properties out there sell their homes to big corporate landlords OR homeowners and there are fewer places to rent

Guess what happens to rental prices then?

THe fastest way to make more people homeless is to punish landlords for providing a home in the first place.

[cougar]

19 minutes ago, CdnFox said:

And why should the landlords be responsible for that? Why are the landlords suddenly in charge of providing free social services?

On the outside they shouldn't.  Social services as well are rent increases should be better managed by the government.

But in our society very few things seem to work well.

You have people spending nearly all of their incomes on rent, building no equity.  Then you have others taking advantage of them , who own many properties and can sell them to comfortably retire.

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, cougar said:

On the outside they shouldn't.  Social services as well are rent increases should be better managed by the government.

If at all.  We can agree for sure that it should not be the landlords
 

Quote

 

But in our society very few things seem to work well.

You have people spending nearly all of their incomes on rent, building no equity.  Then you have others taking advantage of them , who own many properties and can sell them to comfortably retire.

 

That gets WORSE when you drive the risk and pain of being a landlord UP.  Do you have any idea how FEW actual purpose built rentals there have been in Canada in the last 10 years ?  Even when gov'ts force developers to in order to get their projects built?  IT's a TINY fraction of what's necessary  - the vast majority comes from individuals who have the money to buy one or two extra condominiums and rent them out with full mortgages and barely break even.

As people stop doing that the rental markets dry up and the remaining landlords are going to be raising their prices.  Meanwhile thousands of potential units don't go on the market because people are afraid to be landlords. Lots of people COULD have a nice basement suite in their home for rent but don't for this very reason.

Everyone thinks the landlords are like the evil stepmoms in a disney show - but the fact is if it isn't fair they leave, and the ones who remain are really good at being not fair back to protect themselves and people suffer.

 

 

[herbie]

Had a friend managing a townhouse complex back around 1990. Representatives from a local Band Office demanded to know why he refused to rent to a family even after they'd made him go and get references as required.
The reference from a previous landlord stated not to rent to these people under any circumstances, they'd lit a fire on the lino when the gas was cut off, punched holes in the wall and plugged the sinks and toilet with plaster when he served the eviction notice.

One Band rep tried the line "you said they needed a reference, you didn't say good or bad one...."

Was once a slobby 20 something that rented a place with 3 other guys... had to rent for a while and know the damage raising 12-16 yr olds do. Two units w young families on our street with mountains of empties on the porch and diapers spread all over the neighbourhood by bears, both landlords needed to go to court to get them out. One lived there 4 years and never cut the lawn.
I could easily buy the vacant house next door and rent it out but even the seller won't ever do that again.
I do have a friend in Prince George who built a unit in her basement, but she'll only do short term AirBNB. No market here for that or a quick flip, so house next door stays vacant.

[CdnFox]

52 minutes ago, herbie said:

Had a friend managing a townhouse complex back around 1990. Representatives from a local Band Office demanded to know why he refused to rent to a family even after they'd made him go and get references as required.
The reference from a previous landlord stated not to rent to these people under any circumstances, they'd lit a fire on the lino when the gas was cut off, punched holes in the wall and plugged the sinks and toilet with plaster when he served the eviction notice.

One Band rep tried the line "you said they needed a reference, you didn't say good or bad one...."

Was once a slobby 20 something that rented a place with 3 other guys... had to rent for a while and know the damage raising 12-16 yr olds do. Two units w young families on our street with mountains of empties on the porch and diapers spread all over the neighbourhood by bears, both landlords needed to go to court to get them out. One lived there 4 years and never cut the lawn.
I could easily buy the vacant house next door and rent it out but even the seller won't ever do that again.
I do have a friend in Prince George who built a unit in her basement, but she'll only do short term AirBNB. No market here for that or a quick flip, so house next door stays vacant.

That kind of story is repeated everywhere i go. Lots of people COULD be landlords, but they choose not to be. Which means the only ones who are would be the ones willing to charge max rent and show no mercy so they don't get screwed over.