Rent hikes are expected to ease across Canada in the next few years — except in Quebec.
A recent Desjardins report shows Quebec is the only province in the country where rents are expected to rise.
Margaret Van Nooten of housing committee Project Genesis said it’s “very worrisome” to see.
The increase is mainly due to the province’s rent control guidelines. Last year, the housing tribunal (TAL) recommended a four per cent rent increase on certain homes, marking it as the biggest rise in the last 30 years for buildings more than five-years-old.
But Van Nooten says the TAL isn’t the issue.
“There are very few households that actually have their rents set at the tribunal,” she said.
The problem is that rents significantly increase when a new tenant moves in, she added.
“That’s why there’s such an incentive for landlords right now to get rid of tenants who pay below market rent,” said Van Nooten, who wants stronger …