New protections coming for B.C. renters and tenants, officials say [Video]

The B.C. government has proposed new tenancy protections designed to prevent some “unfair rent increases” and “bad-faith evictions,” officials announced Tuesday.

The amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act include new restrictions on landlord’s use evictions and measure to stop property owners from hiking rent when tenants bring a new baby – or any child under the age of 19 – into their home.

“We know the vast majority of landlords and renters play by the rules,” Premier David Eby said at a news conference in Victoria. “But it’s not always the case, and unfortunately the reality is that we need to continue to take action.”

One of the key issues the amendments aim to address is landlords evicting tenants under false pretenses – a problem that advocates say has skyrocketed since the province cracked down on so-called “renovictions” in 2021.

“There’s a significant number of people in the province that …