IN THIS
ISSUE
- Streamlined rentals around local
shopping areas
- Vacancy controls introduced for
Single Room Accommodation
- Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
accepting new clients
- Contact the Renter Enquiry Line
(REL)
Welcome
to the February edition of the Renter Office
newsletter.
Do you know a renter in
Vancouver? Encourage them to sign-up for this newsletter at
vancouver.ca/renteroffice.
Streamlined rentals around local shopping
areas

Vancouver City Council’s last meeting of 2021 led
to some welcome news for renters.
As part of the City’s commitment to
address the climate emergency and housing crisis, City Council has
approved policy updates and zoning changes that will create more complete,
connected and walkable neighbourhoods in Vancouver by speeding up the
delivery of rental housing in local shopping areas and nearby low-density
areas.
The changes approved on December 14,
2021, take action on key policy directions identified by the Secured
Rental Policy, previously approved in November
2019.
Staff are now preparing for
implementation, and the City is planning for the updated policy and zoning
changes to take effect as of February 14.
For more updates, stay tuned to
vancouver.ca/rentalhousing.
Vacancy controls introduced for
Single Room Accommodation

Renters of Single Room Accommodation
(SRA)-designated buildings (also known as Single Room Occupancy or SRO
Hotels) now have an additional layer of protection from displacement and
rapidly rising rents in the stock.
Through
by-law amendments approved by City Council in December 2021, the
SRA Vacancy Control Policy limits rent increases between
tenancies in all non-government owned SRA-designated
rooms.
The policy intends to protect some
of the City’s most vulnerable tenants, many of whom have limited
alternative housing options before falling into
homelessness.
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program
accepting new clients

A service often sought out by renters, the
Law
Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP) has announced they are
accepting new clients as of January 10.
Run by law students at the Peter A.
Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, LSLAP is a
non-profit providing free legal advice and representation to clients in
the Lower Mainland who would otherwise be unable to afford legal
assistance.
As part of their services, LSLAP
is able to assist renters by providing summary legal advice for
issues related to the Residential Tenancy Act. Depending on the circumstances of each client and
issue, LSLAP may also be able to offer more substantive
assistance.
Each
year, the program publishes an online manual that
is written, edited and updated by students and volunteer lawyers. Renters
may find Chapter 19
of the manual a useful resource, with information regarding landlord and
tenant law.
With
clinics running remotely, those interested in LSLAP’s services are
encouraged to inquire about the program and book an appointment by calling
604-822-5791.
Contact the Renter Enquiry Line
(REL)
The Renter Office’s Renter Enquiry
Line (REL), available by phone and email, connects Vancouver
renters to appropriate City departments for information on questions
related to the City’s policies or programs, such as assisting renters in
looking up City permits for specific buildings.
The REL also refers renters to non-profit community resources for tenancy
issues covered by the provincial Residential Tenancy Act.
We will do our best to get back to
you within five business days.
We offer phone services in English, Mandarin and
Cantonese and hope to offer additional languages in the future. If you
would like assistance in your chosen language, please phone 3-1-1 and they
will direct you to the appropriate staff for language
support.
At-a-glance: Community renter
services and resources
The Renter Office frequently refers
renters to non-profit community organizations for tenancy support, ranging
from information on residential tenancy rights, legal advice or
representation on tenancy issues such as evictions, to need-based
financial assistance for rental housing.
- Residential
tenancy information and services:
- Legal advice and advocacy
services:
- Financial
assistance services:
What's
next?
Stay tuned for exciting
announcements about our 2022 Renter Services Grants.
Grants will be awarded in March to
non-profit community organizations that serve and advocate for
renters.
Is
there a topic you would like to see covered in this newsletter?
Reach out to us with your ideas and suggestions: renteroffice@vancouver.ca
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