LandlordBC demands province double the supplement for renters amid COVID-19

Many renters are being left behind despite a financial supplement that has been offered by the province of B.C., says a Landlord advocacy group.

LandlordBC is calling on the province to increase its current COVID-19 rental supplement, as well as loosen the program’s eligibility requirements.

British Columbia unveiled its provincial rental supplement in March, after thousands of renters reported being affected by the strain COVID-19 has put on the economy.

The fund currently provides $300 per month to renters without dependents, and $500 to renters with dependents, and is provided in addition to the one-time $1,000 B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers offered to workers who have lost income due to the pandemic.

But LandlordBC says this just isn’t enough, stating that they would like to see the benefit increase to $750 per month for renters with no dependents, and $1,000 per month for those with dependents.

The association argues that the current amount of the supplement does not meet the high rental costs in most major cities in the province.

They are also calling on the provincial government to remove the income test for eligibility, and to extend this enhanced benefit through to August 2020.

In a statement released April 28th, LandlordBC says, “The current benefit amount is inadequate for a vast majority of renters relative to the monthly rent they are responsible for and, furthermore, the selection criteria is in our view leaving many renters behind.”

“The good news is that there’s time to fix this for May 1st when we are predicting a significant spike in the number of renters unable to pay their rent.”

Applications for the temporary provincial fund to assist renters who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic in paying rent are now open.