Municipal Affairs
- The Province will invest more than $7 billion over 10 years, to build the kind of homes people need, in every corner of the province — including urban, suburban and rural.
- The Province is investing $1.1 billion over 10 years to upgrade and improve existing subsidized rental housing throughout B.C. This investment will fund seismic and fire-safety upgrades, and essential repairs and maintenance, making homes safer and more comfortable for residents.
- To help renters, the Province is providing $116 million over three years to expand eligibility and increase the average benefits under the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) and Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER).
- More than 35,000 households will benefit from the enhancements, including 3,200 newly eligible seniors and families.
- The average payment for RAP recipients will go up by approximately $800 per year.
- The average payment for SAFER recipients will go up by approximately $930 per year.
- These enhancements will begin Sept. 1, 2018.
- For information about RAP and SAFER, go to : https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-assistance-financial-aid-for-home-modifications
- The B.C. government has strengthened protection for renters by:
- Closing what is known as the fixed-term lease loophole: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017mah0010-001815
- Eliminating the geographic rent-increase clause: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017MAH0021-002036
- Changing the laws that apply in cases of renovations or demolitions: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018MAH0033-000618
- Strengthening laws around manufactured home parks: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018MAH0066-001111
- The B.C. government launched a new rental housing task force that will advise on how to improve security and fairness for renters and landlords throughout the province: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0015-000608
- The Province is providing $6.8 million in new funding to the Residential Tenancy Branch to reduce wait times for tenancy disputes, and to establish a new compliance unit to take action against landlords and tenants who are repeat or serious offenders: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017FIN0024-001557
- Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf
- For actions the Province is taking to improve housing affordability, visit: news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges
Media Contacts
Lindsay Byers
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing250 952-0617
https://news.gov.bc.ca/17237
