The Coalition of Housing Committees and Tenants Associations of Quebec’s (RCLALQ) announced it opposes the amendments to the rent regulation announced earlier this month by Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau. The reform introduces a new calculation method for setting rents that factors in cost-of-living increases and major building renovations.
“Contrary to what the Minister claimed last January – when she said that ‘her hands were tied’ – Duranceau demonstrated today that she does indeed have the power to amend the regulation and protect renters,” the coalition wrote. “However, the Minister’s reform only pretends to repair the broken regulation that would have continued to fuel an unprecedented spiral of rent increases. The new version of the regulation will actually benefit landlords to the detriment of tenants.”
The group goes on to argue that the reform “in no way” responds to tenants’ demands for real rent control in Quebec, rather it opens the door for landlords to increase their profits “on the backs of tenants.”
RCLALQ asserts the new formula allows for increases that aren’t based on the actual costs of managing a building, but on the potential market value of the property to the greater benefit of landlords. “If the reform had been applied from 2015, rent increases would have been much higher over the last 10 years than they were with the previous version of the regulation,” it wrote.
The new standardized method provides for increases of 5 per cent on the cost of major works in response to demands of landlords associations who’ve argued they should be entitled to charge more in the wake of costly upgrades.
“Today’s reform is clearly a missed opportunity to curb the housing crisis and abusive property speculation,” wrote RCLALQ. “What’s more, the government continues their refusal to introduce measures such as compulsory rent control and a public register to prevent abusive rises, particularly when tenants change.”
The RCLALQ is urging Quebec residents to join the national demonstration for the right to housing on Tenants’ Day in Drummondville on April 24, and to participate in its email campaign demanding real rent control.
