A group representing condo owners in British Columbia says it has a lot of concerns about the provincial government’s new plans to create more available space for renters.

Among the changes being proposed is amendments to the Strata Act to allow more renters into condos.

Tony Gioventu, the Executive Director of the Condominium Home Owners Association of BC, says one if the unintended issues with that could be insurance rates, noting insurance companies are already screening stratas to see how many renters there are.

“With a high ratio of rentals in strata buildings, there is a higher frequency of claims,” he said, on NL Newsday. “It is a cautionary tale for landlords because landlords can really end up on the hook.”

“If you’re a strata corporation and you have a higher frequency of rentals, you have a higher frequency of claims. It is really difficult for you to get insurance.”

Gioventu, whose organization made submissions to the government for the new legislation, argues smaller stratas may also run the risk of being bought up by speculators — and with that – allow less screening of your prospective neighbour if you’re a condo owner.

“That in turn is going to end up with tenants that are going to be very difficult to deal with for strata corporations and evictions are almost guaranteed to be challenged, because the strata corporation has no legal standing in this relationship,” Gioventu said.

He says what the province should be doing to ease the rental crunch is targeting the thousands of condos out there currently being used as AirBnBs.