Summary

• The Province is making amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to provide new tools to address health and safety issues in supportive housing and protect tenant rights
• These new tools are designed to: keep weapons out of supportive housing, de-escalate situations that pose health and safety risks to tenants and workers, and clarify supportive housing’s legal classification
• The Province will continue to engage with the sector and partners as regulations are implemented

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To improve health and safety in supportive housing, and ensure that the rights of tenants continue to be protected, the Province is making amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA).

“The majority of the approximately 15,000 people living in supportive housing create a positive community in their homes and with their neighbours. Operators of supportive housing are calling for more tools and support to deal with rare problematic tenants and guests,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “By providing new tools to keep tenants and staff safe, we can continue the vital work of helping people find stability in their lives, while also assisting those living and working in supportive housing to feel more comfortable and secure.”

Record investments in housing are addressing homelessness and moving people inside and away from encampments. These proposed changes aim to address the most pressing concerns related to health and safety, while continuing to protect the rights of tenants living in supportive housing.

Proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act

The proposed amendments will provide new tools in supportive housing to:

• take new action to keep weapons out of supportive housing
• provide operators a continuum of options to temporarily restrict the access of tenants to a supportive housing site to de-escalate critical health and safety risks to other residents and staff. In extreme circumstances, operators may restrict access to tenants to a supportive housing building if they are awaiting an expedited Residential Tenancy Branch eviction hearing for posing a threat to fellow residents, staff or guests
• clarify when and where the Residential Tenancy Act applies

Protecting workers in supportive housing, and other forms of housing, continues to be a government priority. Amendments will also be made to protect all workers and guests across all forms of rental housing.

In 2024, the Residential Tenancy Regulation was amended to define supportive housing under the Residential Tenancy Act, and it exempted supportive housing from sections of the act to enable guest management and wellness checks.

Provincial engagement

The Province is committed to continued engagement with the sector and partners as regulations are implemented.

In summer 2025, the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs convened a time-limited working group made up of sector associations, housing operators, Indigenous housing providers, law enforcement and union representatives to review options to address health and safety concerns. Tenant advocates, people with lived experience and other partners were also consulted.

The proposed amendments to the act build on those consultations and are meant to protect the rights of tenants and staff by providing the tools to take quick and decisive action in rare instances of health and safety issues.

Since 2017, the Province has more than 95,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including approximately 9,900 supportive homes throughout B.C.

Quotes:

Jill Atkey, chief executive officer, BC Non-Profit Housing Association –

“Balances are never easy to strike, especially when rights are at stake. The Residential Tenancy Act changes announced today do a good job of balancing the rights of people with the operational realities of supportive housing. Ultimately, these changes will help to ensure safer communities for residents and staff.”

Julian Daly, chief executive officer, Our Place Society –

“Our Place welcomes the provincial government's willingness to make changes to the RTA as it relates to supportive housing. The government really listened to the concerns of our sector and has acted on them. These proposed changes give us, as housing providers, more flexibility in how we manage our buildings, greater control over who lives with us and allows us to create safer homes for those we house as well as a safer workplace for our colleagues. They really managed to nail balancing the needs of housing providers with the rights of residents.”

Bob Hughes, chief executive officer, ASK Wellness Society –

“The steps taken by the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to engage service providers like ASK Wellness Society and others through this working group process is commendable. The resulting proposed changes will support the safety and effectiveness of supportive housing and is welcomed. I look forward to further opportunities to collaborate with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs in responding to the ongoing homelessness and addictions crisis facing our communities.”

Margaret Pfoh, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) –

“It is encouraging to see both tenant and worker wellness prioritized within supportive housing. AHMA housing and service providers apply a trauma-informed lens, which we want to see reflected in decisions that will meaningfully respond to the realities and distinct context of Indigenous tenants and workers."

Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division –

“From a mental-health perspective, safety and housing stability are inseparable. People living and working in supportive housing deserve both, and their success depends on the wraparound health and social services, strong oversight and adequate resourcing that make both possible. These changes start to move us in that direction.”

Quick Facts:

• A recent study has shown that people living in supportive housing were incarcerated nearly 84% less than people experiencing homelessness in 2022, and had nearly 32% fewer hospital admissions in 2022.
• The Province is keeping supportive housing within the Residential Tenancy Act and ensuring people still have access to dispute resolution, including fair hearings.
• Through Budget 2018 and Budget 2023, the Province committed $2.3 billion to build 5,700 supportive housing units.
• These homes include 24/7 on-site support services.
• Supportive housing is subsidized housing with on-site supports for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, to help improve housing stability, quality of life and greater independence of tenants.

Learn More:

For more information about Belonging in B.C. homelessness plan, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/affordable-and-social-housing/homelessness

For more information on the Residential Tenancy Act, visit: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02078_01

For more information about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/legislation