Advocacy Is Job One!

April 9, 2018

LandlordBC’s mandate is to support a balanced and healthy rental housing market with an emphasis on private sector solutions. The rental housing industry contributes over $10.6 billion to the BC economy, which is greater than forestry and mining combined. It is critical that we have public policy that is supportive of our industry so that we can continue to deliver safe, secure, sustainable rental housing to British Columbians

Advocacy is job one! We take great pride in the fact that the LandlordBC brand is synonymous with professionalism and integrity, and that we have gained the confidence of governments and other stakeholders as they consistently and increasingly look to LandlordBC for guidance and leadership. With leadership comes responsibility, and that is why LandlordBC is committed to maintaining a proactive and positive advocacy role with government, media, and stakeholders as we work to promote and conserve the interests and rights of professional and responsible owners and managers of rental housing.

To say rental housing is a “hot-button” issue would be an understatement. Consequently, the scope of our advocacy efforts is significant and growing. Some of the key areas where we’re successfully advancing our industry’s interests include:

Cannabis legalization – LandlordBC has collaborated with the BC Cannabis Secretariat to ensure that the cultivation and consumption of cannabis is restricted in all forms of rental housing
Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) – LandlordBC has collaborated with the Minister of Housing to effect positive legislative changes for tenants and landlords alike, and continues to work with the Minister on further policy change and the improvement of service delivery at RTB for timely access to justice.
Budget 2018 – LandlordBC ensured that purpose-built rental (PBR) housing was exempt from new school taxes announced in the Budget. We continue to press the Government for PBR exemptions for Property Transfer Taxes, and an exemption from the new speculation tax and school taxes on bare land and land assemblies specifically designated for PBR
Privacy Commissioner – LandlordBC is actively seeking reconsideration of recent recommendations advanced by the Acting Privacy Commissioner in his March 22, 2018 report pertaining to tenant screening
New Purpose-Built Rental – LandlordBC is a vocal advocate for incentives from all levels of government for the building of affordable market PBR housing. We are a fixture at public hearings throughout Metro Vancouver and investing significant resources to help civic politicians and planning staff understand the huge barriers to building more PBR
Pets in rentals – LandlordBC remains steadfast in defending the right of landlords to determine whether or not the rental homes they provide are pet-friendly or not.
Landlord Registry™ from LandlordBC – Enrollment in the Landlord Registry™ is the single most important step a landlord can do to mitigate their risk and achieve credibility in the rental market. We continue to invest in this important program (translated to Punjabi and Mandarin in the next few months will be completed) and are working to secure Government support to broaden its reach