The BC government is taking steps to make it easier for both tenants and landlords to settle disputes.
The province has announced it’s bolstering the Residential Tenancy Branch’s operating and staffing budget by 40-percent.
It’s also adding up to 50 new full-time employees in a bid to cut waiting times and increase the scope of the Compliance and Enforcement Unit.
The CEU was set up in 2019 to deal with a glut of illegal evictions and landlords who had been repeatedly cited in Tenancy Branch cases.
“Renters and landlords have been clear that the current residential tenancy dispute resolution process isn’t working fast enough to address their needs,” said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. “We hear you and we are taking action to speed up service and strengthen enforcement to address things like repeat or serious offences like illegal evictions, so renters and landlords can get the fair treatment and timely support they deserve.”
Big news for landlords and tenants🏠
More supports for the Residential Tenancy Branch will give them the ability to address serious issues and ensure people are getting fair treatment & support in timely matter 👇🏾https://t.co/rHJQZC4K8Z pic.twitter.com/OFpkhXqg8M
— Ravi Kahlon (@KahlonRav) December 28, 2022
The government is pointing to the pandemic, as well as overall demand from more people moving to BC, as the reason why there are massive wait times for dispute resolution with the Residential Tenancy Branch.
“This new investment of as much as $15.6 million over three years is a significant injection of new staff and resources to improve service delivery and speed up waiting times for hearings,” said the provincial government in a news release.
“Not only will this new investment alleviate financial concerns for landlords by allowing them to solve rental disputes faster, but it will also ensure that their unit is available to provide housing to people in B.C. at a time when it’s needed most,” said David Hutniak, CEO, LandlordBC. “We are pleased to see this government take action to resolve a process they recognize isn’t working. We look forward to continuing to work alongside them to create better solutions for landlords and renters in our province.”
