Landlords in B.C. can only increase the rent once a year by an amount permitted by law.  B.C.'s allowable rent increase is two per cent plus inflation annually. The allowable rent increase for 2017 is 3.7%. If a landlord wants to increase rent beyond the maximum allowable amount, then an application for an additional rent increase must be made to the Residential Tenancy Branch.

The B.C. government provides support to nearly 30,450 low-income families through a range of affordable housing options.

Last year, the B.C. government provided approximately $32 million to support affordable housing for more than 5,100 low-income individuals, seniors and families in Victoria.

Last year, the B.C. government provided over $207 million to support affordable housing for approximately 27,700 low-income individuals, seniors and families in Vancouver.

The B.C. government has committed $65 million to support the purchase and renovation of 364 units of affordable rental housing for low-to-moderate-income individuals with mental-health or substance-use issues.

Provincial funding of $12 million will bring approximately 80 new affordable homes for low-to moderate-income renters and adults with mental health challenges at a new housing development in Richmond.

Provincial funding of over $10 million will bring more than 70 new affordable homes at two new housing developments in Kamloops.

The B.C. government is providing more than $1 million in grants to six Habitat for Humanity B.C. affiliates that will be used to build new affordable homes in Campbell River, Mission, Nanaimo, Richmond, Sechelt and Vernon.