B.C. government expanding tenancy dispute agency

Renters and landlords mired in conflict in B.C. might be able to get their issues resolved sooner.

The B.C. government is the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB), which enforces rental rules in the province.

Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon, says the agency is facing a backlog of disputes due to increased demand over the past couple of years.

“Renters and landlords have been clear that the current residential tenancy dispute resolution process isn’t working fast enough to address their needs,” he said.

“Doubling that unit, I think, will have a serious impact on the wait times we have.”

Kahlon says the RTB has seen a 22 per cent increase in calls since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a backlog for decisions.

The expansion announced Wednesday includes bumping up the RTB’s operating budget and staffing by 40 per cent, which will see 50 new full-time employees hired. The province’s investment in the expansion will be $15.6 million over the next three years.

Kahlon says the new employees will be able to work from home, with the hopes that will entice people to work for the branch.

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Additionally, the province’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit (CEU), which enforces the decisions from the RTB, will also be doubling in size. The government says expanding the CEU will “improve its ability to address serious issues and ensure people are getting fair treatment.”

A lawyer with the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre (TRAC), Robert Patterson, hopes this expansion of the agencies will see tenants’ concerns addressed sooner.

“TRAC hopes that adding more staff will mean not only that tenants’ cases will be heard more quickly, but also that arbitrators will have the time and support they need to give well-reasoned decisions,” he said.

CEO of LandlordBC, David Hutniak, says having disputes solved more quickly will free up more rental units in the province.

“We are pleased to see this government take action to resolve a process they recognize isn’t working,” he said, further commenting to CityNews that they have been advocating for additional funding for a period of time.

“As the majority of this funding is going towards arbitrators, this is going to solve the backlog of disputes that are sitting there at the RTB right now,” Hutniak said. “This is a huge issue in terms of both tenants and landlords getting timely access to justice.”

He is quick to add, however, that we shouldn’t be under the misperception that the problem will be solved overnight.

“We know this might take a number of months,” Hutniak suggested. “Because first of all, they will have to hire all these arbitrators, but from a longer term perspective, this is going to make a huge difference and we’re looking forward to seeing the eventual positive outcome that will come from this.”

Wednesday’s announcement is another in a series of measures the BC NDP government has taken since David Eby was sworn in as premier. In November, legislation was announced that would see a slate of housing measures introduced, including an end to rental restrictions through tweaks to the Strata Property Act.