Renters eager to see new 'Canadian Renters' Bill of Rights' while some landlords have concerns
The federal government is working on a new bill to aid Canadian renters.
The “Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights” would require landlords to disclose a properties’ rental price history to potential tenants, one of three measures teased by the prime minister Wednesday as part of the upcoming federal budget.
It will also include a new housing aid fund which would make renovictions more difficult for landlords and changes that would ensure credit scores take rent payments that are made on time under consideration when applying for a mortgage.
In her nine years of renting in New Brunswick, Nikki Kennedy says she has seen and been through just about everything. She recently moved into a new apartment after issues with past landlords.
“My last two apartments I have had really bad landlords who have harassed and charged me a lot of money to protect myself,” she says, referring to one landlord charging her $300 to remove someone off her lease agreement for safety reasons.
“Then, after the fact, they told me they wanted me to leave, that I wasn’t a good tenant, but I didn’t do anything to warrant that.”
She believes she was kicked out so her landlord could raise the price of rent for the unit. She is encouraged by the prime ministers announcement Wednesday which would see that process become more difficult for landlords so others don’t have to suffer similar experiences.
Kennedy is also excited about the aspect that on time rental payments could affect her credit score in a positive light.
“My dream is to own a home one day and the rate that things are going now it almost felt like an impossible dream,” she admits.
“It would really help to have this on my credit report and I have been trying my best to raise my score but it is difficult.”
New Brunswick ACORN, a tenant advocacy group, is also encouraged by the announcement and is eager to see the full scale of what will be tabled in the budget. Nichola Taylor, chair of New Brunswick ACORN, says most laws tend to favour landlords in New Brunswick. She hopes the new bill will help bring more balance for renters in the province.
She is also hopeful a rent cap will be included in the budget.
“Provinces like New Brunswick and Alberta which have very little rent control laws or rent protection for tenants need something like this to happen,” says Taylor.
“In order to help tenants further, policy changes actually need to be taken into account and need to be made in order for this to have a substantial effect on tenants.”
It’s a different story for landlords a day after the announcements.
Kevin Russell is the executive director of Investment Property Owners Association of Nova Scotia. He says the limited knowledge at this time has left some landlords concerned.
“It’s installed a bit of fear across our sector,” Russel says.
“Because there is nothing worse then the unknown and that’s exactly what was put out there and now we are wondering what it all means.”
Unlike his counterparts in New Brunswick, he says laws tend to favour tenants in his province. He hopes as part of the budget, landlords won’t be left out.
“We would like to see where there is a bill of rights for rental housing providers,” says Russell.
“This should be extended to become Canadian Renters’ and Rental Housing Provider Bill of Rights. There has got to be fairness in the system and right now we are not seeing that.”
Local governments are also eager to hear more on the matter.
“We look at every opportunity that we can strengthen and modernize the act and the program,” says Service Nova Scotia Minister Colton LeBlanc.
“So we are looking forward to hearing what the federal government has to say on this file.”
More information is expected to become available when the federal budget is tabled on April 16.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Health minister 'deeply appreciative' of doctors but capital gains changes here to stay
Health Minister Mark Holland says while he is 'deeply appreciative' of the work doctors in Canada do, the federal government has no plans to scrap the proposed capital gains tax changes outlined in the latest budget, despite opposition from the Canadian Medical Association.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
BREAKING Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec will invest $603 million over five years to counter the decline of French in the province, French Language Minister Jean-Francois Roberge announced Sunday.
Key mediator Qatar urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a cease-fire deal
A senior Qatari official has urged Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and more seriousness" in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds to reach a deal that would free some Israeli hostages and bring a ceasefire in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Campus anti-war protesters dig in across U.S. as schools, police take action
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war woke up in tents at college campuses across the United States Sunday morning planning more protests demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies accused of enabling the conflict.