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Housing ministry provides framework for renters to pay arrears

Renters who have outstanding rent from April through to August 2020 can find new information about repayment on the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) website at www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/covid-19 .
Rent plan
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Renters who have outstanding rent from April through to August 2020 can find new information about repayment on the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) website at www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/covid-19.

According to a media release from BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, renters will be expected to pay rent in full on September 1, 2020; the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent will end on August 18. Renters in arrears from rent due during the specified period of March 18 to August 17 will have until at least July 2021 to pay back any rent they owe, with the first repayments not starting until October at the earliest.

The rental framework will protect renters by ensuring they cannot be evicted for a missed or late rent payment from March 18 to August 17, according to the release, unless a renter defaults on their repayment plan.

Terms of the repayment plan must include: amount of outstanding rent; start date of the repayment plan; amount of each instalment; and dates for each instalment.

Repayment instalments must begin at least 30 days after the date the plan is given by the landlord to the renter. It also must give renters until July 2021 for the final repayments to be made, unless the landlord and renter agree to a longer period. While it will be paid in equal instalments, renters and landlords have the option of agreeing to smaller amounts being paid each month in the beginning of the repayment process.

Each monthly instalment must be paid on the same date the rent is due.

The province is continuing to temporarily prohibit landlords from charging rent increases until December 2020. A renter who has been issued a notice of rent increase for an earlier date should not pay the increase and continue to pay their current amount until then, according to the ministry.

The Temporary Rental Supplement also remains available to people until August 31, 2020.

Renters still experiencing a loss of income may also be eligible for either the Rental Assistance Program or the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters programs. Details are available through BC Housing at 604.433.2218 or toll-free from anywhere in BC at 1.800.257.7756.