Could Burnaby be next, when it comes to taking action to stop ‘renovictions’?
Posted February 7, 2019 10:26 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – Now that New Westminster has taken action to stop so-called “renovictions,” could Burnaby be next? The mayor of that city says it’s possible.
Mike Hurley campaigned last year on a promise to make housing more affordable in Burnaby.
This week, New Westminster passed a new by-law, imposing restrictions on the eviction of tenants by landlords wanting to renovate older buildings and charge higher rents. But Hurley says that isn’t as much of a problem in his city.
“We’re more concerned with buildings being taken down and completely replaced,” Hurley said.
“Certainly, if the renovation issue — like what happens in New West a lot, because there are a number of older buildings — if that becomes an issue in Burnaby, we would look at having a good look at what New Westminster has been doing to protect renters. But it has not been an issue that’s been brought at least to my attention in Burnaby.”
RELATED: Renoviction by-law passed in New Westminster
Hurley adds a newly announced task force on housing might recommend something similar to what’s happening now in New Westminster. The goal of the by-law in that city is to slow down the renovation of older buildings by developers looking to charge higher rents.
He says he has already spoken with many developers in the city.
“I’ve made it very clear that the priority now is that no buildings can come down in our city until we are sure that every person living in that building has been looked after, in some form — whether that be moved to a different building to be housed or given real financial assistance so that they can afford to live elsewhere until they have a spot they can move back into in any new building at similar rents.”
The mayor adds he speaks to his counterpart in New Westminster on a weekly basis and reiterates that affordable housing remains his top priority.
“Although we can’t snap our fingers and do it overnight, we are going to move towards more affordable and more family friendly housing within our city.”
