Rent control is one of the most important protections renters have. It limits how often and how much a landlord can increase your rent. 

In B.C. this means:

• Your landlord can only raise rent once a year during your tenancy
  
  
• Rents can only be raised by the amount set by the Provincial government: Calculate what your legal rent increase should be here
  
  
• Your landlord must use the proper legal form: “Notice of Rent Increase”
  • If they don’t use the correct form, you can ignore the notice
    
    
• Tenants must get 3 full months notice ahead of the rent increase 
  • If your landlord gives you less than three full months notice, you can continue to pay your current rent until the correct amount of time has passed. 
    
    

Watch Out For Common Rent Control Loopholes!

• Fixed Term Leases 
  • At the end of a one-year lease, your tenancy agreement automatically turns into a month-to-month lease with the same conditions as your previous agreement. You do not have to sign a new lease with a higher rent or different conditions. You also do not have to move out or sign a mutual agreement to end tenancy
    
    
• See a list of legal and illegal Fees 
  
  
• The biggest loophole:
  • In B.C. rent controls don’t apply when a tenant moves out - this means that once you end your tenancy, landlords can raise rents as much as they want. VTU members think we need Real Rent Control Learn more and sign the petition at www.RealRentControlBC.ca

Further Reading

• Learn More on TRAC's Website
• Keep Your Landlord In Check Handbook