Victoria council to consider bolstering renter protections with new policies

In this week’s Victoria city council meeting, a motion will be presented that would strengthen policies to protect renters. 

The motion was penned by Councillors Dave Thompson, Jeremy Caradonna and Krista Loughton. 

According to the motion, renters account for roughly 62% of Victoria’s population. Because the percentage of renters is so high, the City has already taken some steps to support them. 

Two examples of this from recent years, include the creation of the Rental Property Standards of Maintenance Bylaw and the new Tenant Protection During Redevelopment Bylaw. 

Victoria’s Rental Property Standards of Maintenance Bylaw established minimum maintenance standards for rental housing to ensure the quality, safety and livability of residential rental properties. 

The Tenant Protection During Redevelopment Bylaw created mandatory legal rules for property owners to protect, compensate and assist renters when their buildings are demolished or redeveloped.

Furthermore, the City has approved the building of over 7,000 homes over the past four years, many of which were intended as rentals.

This effort has brought the vacancy rate in Victoria above 3% for the first time in decades, which has helped reduce the skyrocketing rent prices. 

Despite these efforts to improve rental conditions, Caradonna, Loughton and Thompson believe there is more work to do to protect renters in Victoria. 

They propose that City staff explore new policy options and report regularly on the impact existing bylaws have on the wellbeing, affordability, security and rights of renters.

“Decades of tight restrictions on building new rentals led to rock bottom vacancy rates and massive rent increases,” said Councillor Thompson. 

“We are starting to see that turn around, but those decades created a lot of other problems. This motion is aimed at addressing some of those other problems.”

Specifically, the motion would have City staff study and report back on options to improve compliance with the Rental Property Standards of Maintenance Bylaw and how the new Official Community Plan, designated Priority Growth Areas and zoning regulation are stimulating future rental projects.

Staff would also be directed to look into the first year of the Tenant Protection During Redevelopment Bylaw and whether it may be necessary to strengthen it, current provincial laws on pets and tenancy and whether the City has additional jurisdiction to support renters’ pet ownership. 

Staff will also look into rent control and vacancy control measures in other jurisdictions across Canada and the potential for creating or incentivizing a rent-to-own program. 

“In Victoria, 27% of renters are in core housing need, meaning they spend over 30% of their income on rent, and 11% face extreme need, spending over half their income on housing,” said Councillor Loughton. 

“Expanding tenant supports isn’t just about stability; it is vital to homelessness prevention. This motion directs staff to find the policy solutions we need to keep Victoria livable for everyone.”

The motion will be debated during the weekly committee of the whole meeting on Thursday, May 28th.