Protecting renters and rental housing

Council approved the Broadway Plan on June 22, 2022, providing a 30-year framework integrating new housing, job space, and public amenities with the new subway.

The plan includes new enhanced tenant protections and supports for renters in the plan area focused on choice for existing renters impacted by redevelopment to stay in their neighbourhoods. 

Summary of enhanced tenant protections in the Broadway Plan area

• Right of first refusal for existing tenants to return to the new building at their current rent, or a 20% discount on city-wide average market rents, whichever is less
• Tenants may choose to receive a temporary rent top-up equal to the difference between their current rent and rent in a new unit during construction of the new building
• Returning tenants will return to new homes that are an appropriate size for their household

Review the full details of the Broadway Plan housing policies in the housing chapter of the plan PDF file (49 MB)

Review the updated Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP) requirements PDF file (499 KB)

In June 2019, Council amended the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy to provide increased compensation, support, and requirements for ongoing notice and communication in order to mitigate the impact of relocation on existing tenants. The policy also includes enhanced supports prioritized based on need for vulnerable tenants.

For more details on the amended Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy including policy requirements, tenant relocation process, and timing for implementation of the amended policy, see the documents below.

• Summary of recent changes to the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy PDF file (152 KB)
  Important note This document has been updated to clarify the effective date of the amended 2019 TRPP policy for new and existing development applications.
• Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, amended June 11, 2019 PDF file (767 KB)
• Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy - Process and Requirements (updated 2022) PDF file (588 KB)

For more information on additional renter protection actions approved by Council on June 11, 2019, see the links below.

• Renovations in Rental Apartments: Information for Landlords and Renters PDF file (624 KB)
• Council report on Actions to Increase Renter Protections and Amendments to the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy PDF file (1 MB)
• Council presentation on Actions to Increase Renter Protections and Amendments to the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy PDF file (4 MB)

If you have questions about the recent changes to the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy, contact:

Renters and the public

renteroffice@vancouver.ca

Applicants and developers

housingpolicy@vancouver.ca

If you are a tenant with an ongoing tenant relocation plan or have questions about eligibility, contact:

trp@vancouver.ca

Following Council’s approval of new actions in June 2019, renters across Vancouver will now have more support through the creation of: 

• A new renter advocacy and services team from staff across the City departments so that renters are prioritized in every department
• Renter services grants for non-profit organizations that serve and advocate for renters
• A tenant relocation specialist training program to improve the experience and outcomes for renters who are required to relocate under a tenant relocation plan

We are also exploring the idea of a Renter Services Centre to bring renter-serving non-profit organizations under one roof to support renters in accessing services, education, and legal advocacy.

Learn more about these initiatives:

• Visit the Renter Office page
• Review the Council report PDF file (822 KB) (2019)

Here are resources to help you find rental housing.

City-owned market rental housing

The City owns a limited number of properties with market rental housing.

• Review listings

Other ways to search for market rental housing

• Online and newspaper classified ads
• Property management company listings
• Community notice boards
• Building signs
• Word of mouth in your community and social circle

Social and co-op housing

• Search our Non-Market Housing Inventory list
• Apply for social housing with BC Housing  
• Find a co-op with the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC 

If your building is being redeveloped under a development permit, the owners or developers must provide either of the following:

• A tenant relocation plan, describing how the landlord or developer will help renters who need to move; or
• A tenant impact statement in cases where renters are able to remain on site during renovations, committing the landlord or developer to completing renovations while renters remain on site if the work does not require renters to move out

A tenant relocation plan or tenant impact statement is required under our Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy. The policy applies to tenants in: 

• Primary rental stock (purpose-built market rental housing, buildings with rental units above commercial spaces, multiple conversion dwellings with five or more units)
• Non-profit social and co-op housing
• Secondary rental stock (rented houses, secondary suites, laneway houses, rented units in strata developments*)  where there is a proposal for a new multiple dwelling of five or more units involving consolidation of two or more lots 

*In the Broadway Plan area, the policy applies to rented units in strata condominium apartment developments where there is a proposal for a new multiple dwelling of five or more units that does not involve lot consolidation.

About the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy

The policy:

• Applies to rezoning and development applications received from February 15, 2016 onward
• Replaces the City's Rate of Change Guidelines (which applies to development applications received before February 15, 2016)
• Supplements the BC Residential Tenancy Act

Related documents

• Tenant Relocation and Protection Process and Requirements Bulletin PDF file (300 KB)
• Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy PDF file (420 KB)
• Council report PDF file (570 KB)
• Staff presentation PDF file (5 MB)

Your landlord must provide you with:

• Sufficient notice to end tenancy (4 months)
   Notices can only be given once all permits have been issued.
• Timely information, starting before or when the landlord applies for redevelopment 
• Relocation assistance, including:
  • Free rent or compensation based on the length of tenancy
  • Assistance with moving costs
  • Assistance identifying 3 or more places to move if requested
  • In some cases, the right to return to a unit in the redeveloped building at a discounted new rent

Get details on your rights

Apply for dispute resolution through the Provincial Residential Tenancy Branch.

Dispute resolution is similar to court, but different in some important ways:

• Hearings are almost always held over the phone.
• Most tenants don't require the assistance of a lawyer.
• The person who runs a dispute resolution hearing, an “arbitrator”, acts similarly to a judge. They listen to both parties, consider the evidence, apply the law, and make a decision.

After the hearing, both the tenant and landlord must follow the arbitrator’s orders.

The standard application fee for dispute resolution is $100. Low-income tenants may not have to pay the fee at all.

Get more information on dispute resolution

• Residential Tenancy Branch  
• Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC)  

To support Vancouver renters, we created an online searchable database of all buildings with maintenance, health, or safety issues.

The purpose of the database is to:

• Help renters make better decisions about where they live
• Motivate property owners and landlords to keep their properties in good order for renters

Search for a specific building by address

Browse a list and map of all buildings with issues

• Learn tenant and landlord rights and responsibilities under the BC Residential Tenancy Act  
• Get tenant information and representation from the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre  
• Take the free online course Renting it Right