B.C.’s rental price freeze continues but not everyone’s eligible

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — B.C.’s rental freeze has been extended until the end of 2021, but many who rely on the freeze don’t qualify.

David Pylypol lives and volunteers at Tri-Branch co-op housing in Coquitlam. He said lately more people have been knocking on his door asking if they have any spots available because their own co-op’s rent has increased over the last couple of months.

“People come and say their rent has increased by $300,” he said. “And they’re retired people, just like me.

“They say, ‘help me, I need a place to stay.'”

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B.C.’s rental freeze was brought in last spring to ensure landlords can’t increase rents during the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. The freeze was recently extended to Dec. 31, 2021.

But according to B.C. Housing, the freeze doesn’t apply to those who pay rent-geared-to-income (RGI) rent contribution.

“The freeze applies to those that pay market rent for their unit. It does apply to rents set at the lower end of the market and affordable market rents. Tenants in subsidized units do not pay market rent,” a statement from B.C. Housing reads.

Thom Armstrong with the Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C. says it’s because rent increases at co-ops and subsidized housing units aren’t very common.

“They’re able to meet their debt service and operating costs with very minimal increase in their housing charges.”

Armstrong adds most co-op’s budgets are controlled by the members who live there, so members tend not to approve rental increases.

“The only time housing charges have to go up is to meet increased costs because they operate at a non-profit basis.”

However, Armstrong said he has heard of a very small number of co-ops that have increased rents over the last year. He said they are working with those units to try to reverse the interruption on a case-by-case basis.

For Pylypol, he’s just happy his own co-op hasn’t raised prices over the last year.

“I feel lucky,” he said.