Rent rancour on rise

[news]

Business booming at residential tenancy office
Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier

Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2007

The provincial offices that provide information and dispute resolution to landlords and tenants have seen inquiries increase by more than 80 per cent in the last year.

"What we're noticing is that market changes are having a real effect on our business," said Suzanne Bell, executive director of the province's residential tenancy branch. "Vacancy rates are next to zero in most urban centres in B.C., and it's also a really hot real estate market."

More people are renting because they can't afford to buy, and more landlords are considering evicting their tenants to sell their properties for a windfall.

Tenants commonly ask residential tenancy offices how to fight an eviction and how to get landlords to maintain or repair their suites. Landlords ask how they can evict tenants who are causing problems or aren't paying their rent, and about their right to enter suites.

Residential tenancy office staff have also noted an increase in questions about security deposits following legislative changes in 2004. Landlords and tenants must carry out incoming and outgoing suite inspections, both of which influence the deposit of half a month's rent. Pet deposits of no more than half a month's rent were also established.

Thirty-four information officers knowledgeable about the complex Residential Tenancy Act work at the province's three residential tenancy offices in Burnaby, Victoria and Kelowna. Administrative positions are being phased out so seven information officers can be added.

Bell's not convinced 41 officers will be enough to handle queries, but she expects the office to process cases faster.

"Because we've got people who've got a better understanding of a case as a whole," she said. "An information officer understands a case from start to finish. So they can give them information about their rights and responsibilities, they can assist them in filling out their applications."

In July, a tenant involved in a joint arbitration after facing eviction because of building renovations told the Courier he and three other renters had to try three times to file papers at the residential tenancy office in Burnaby. Bhuvinder Vaid said the first two visits, front desk staff, who he believes were information officers, told them their documents contained mistakes. But when they returned with essentially the same information the third time and raised a fuss, a worker in one of the offices, who he believes was a manager, told them the documents were correct.

Stephano Muzzatti, who evicted Vaid and other renters on behalf of their landlord, told the Courier in July that his job has gotten harder as the residential tenancy office in Burnaby has gotten busier. He complained about Vancouver's residential tenancy office being closed after the B.C. Liberals gained power.

Bell said the closure of the Vancouver office is a common complaint, but the provincial government wanted to centralize services and isn't considering reopening a Vancouver location.

Bell expects the new information officers to join residential tenancy offices this month. They'll be paired with experienced officers until they can answer questions and process cases on their own.

© Vancouver Courier 2007

[Marco911]

People are selling the units in order to turn over a profit.
So that means someone is buying it... who? Why?

I doubt it would be an investor since they are all negative cashflow unless they are speculators buying to rent out in the hopes of appreciation or people are buying because if they don't get in now they'll be shut out.

The fact they say more people are renting because they cannot afford just shows us there are some problems. If the bulk of the people can't afford to buy, who is buying? Obviously there is enough money that people can find somewhere to make these purchases.

I think it's time to sell my places ^_^

Thanks for sharing this article with us, it's always great to see what the media/papers are saying.