The maximum annual allowable rent increase in B.C. for 2021 is set at 1.4 per cent, which is less than half of the maximum of 2.6 per cent in place for 2020.

Prior to the change, the previous government allowed rent increases to be the rate of inflation, plus an additional 2 per cent. By removing the extra 2 per cent, renters living in a $1,320-per-month apartment, which is the cost of the average two-bedroom rental unit in B.C., will save up to $317 next year, and people living in an average two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver will save about $420.

For manufactured-home park tenancies, the rate is 1.4 per cent, plus a proportional amount for the change in local government levies and regulated utility fees.

This system ensures property owners are able to make investments and repairs to maintain safe housing, while ensuring rent increases are moderate and predictable.

B.C. landlords can increase rent only once per year and must provide tenants with three full months’ notice using the correct notice of rent increase form.

To protect renters who have experienced income loss during COVID-19, the province is continuing to maintain rent freezes until December 2020. Any tenant who received a Notice of Increase for 2020 that would have gone into effect after March 18, 2020, should continue to pay their current rent until Nov. 30, 2020.

This announcement follows the end to B.C.’s moratorium on evicting tenants along with the rent subsidy program. As of Sept. 1, landlords are once again be able to issue eviction notices for unpaid rent and create payment plans for renters to pay back arrears.

The province is also ending a temporary rent supplement that gave $300 to $500 a month to nearly 85,000 people as of July 9, according to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.