Bill 96 provides protection against eviction for all tenants, not just those who have occupied their unit for five years, as has been the case until now.
Landlords cannot evict a tenant, unless, for example, they or a member of their family want to occupy the dwelling.
They can evict a tenant, too, to do major renovations.
Opposition calls for changes
The opposition in Fredericton fears that this measure will open the door to abuses, and to what are called renovictions. The Liberal MP for Moncton Centre, Robert McKeedenounces this practice people get evicted to paint the walls and then the rent is increased by 40%, that’s totally unacceptable.
According to him, Bill 96 should be amended to clarify what constitutes a major renovation. We should have well-defined parameters in the act to say in what circumstances we can afford this legislative provision.
Moncton Center Liberal MP Rob McKee.
Photo: CBC
For his part, the leader of the Green Party, david coonwants tighter control of rent increases linked to renovations. The bill must have the ability for owners to apply for an increase over the limit due to renovations.
Other jurisdictions that impose rent control allow, recalls David Coon, a possibility of increasing rents when there are renovations. The increases are then determined by an administrative tribunal, and not left to the goodwill of the owners.
David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean-Philippe Hugues
The leader of the Green Party also believes that the scope of the 3.8% cap on rent increases should be greater. It’s necessary to ensure that the rent cap is for the apartment, not just for the tenants.
Bill 96 provides that the cap only applies to tenants. When a tenant vacates an apartment, the landlord can ask for whatever rent increases they want.
The Minister wants to be reassuring
In response to concerns about landlords trying to circumvent the law, the Minister of Service New Brunswick, Mary Wilsonis reassuring. We will do everything to make sure that the small percentage of owners who try to circumvent the law, that this does not happen.
Service NB Minister Mary Wilson.
Photo: Courtesy Government of New Brunswick
But for the moment, there is no question of amending the bill.
However, the Minister does not rule out the possibility, if for example the Residential Tenancies Tribunal finds that problems arise. We’ll make sure to close any loopholes he might identify.
she said, in reference to the court.
As many have shown, the disappearance of affordable rental housing on the private market is mainly linked to evictions justified, most of the time, by renovations to be carried out. Housing that was affordable is being renovated and re-rented with much higher rents. They are no longer accessible to low-income tenants. More affordable housing is lost than created through government programs.
The Government of New Brunswick does not intend to do anything, according to what Minister Wilson explained, to curb this trend.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca