Rent Me

Returning Vancouver City Councillor Tim Stevenson has tabled a motion that is intended to help people who rent their apartments.

"Specifically, it calls on the province to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to "require landlords to allow tenants evicted for the purpose of renovations to reoccupy their units once renovations are completed at the same rent as they were paying prior to the renovation."

THat quoted paragraph is taken from the Sun's Don Cayo, who argues convincingly that this notion, while well intended, will result in slums and no new rentals being built.

"Think about it. A landlord who collects $600 a month for a suite could spend tens of thousands of dollars on upgrades, then continue to collect $600 a month.

Or he could keep collecting $600 a month without raising a finger (or spending a cent.) You don't need a degree in rocket science to figure out how this will end."

Cayo urges other levels of government to create opportunities for builders to want to build rental stock.

"Among them, work with Ottawa and Victoria to end some of the tax disincentives. Untangle city hall's red tape. Convince developers to provide rental housing in exchange for things like extra height or extra density for new housing projects."

As much as I like Stevenson and admire his dedication, I am afraid his motion is ill-conceived and that Cayo has a clearer eye on the prize.