ACORN’s Statement: The Blueprint for the Renters’ Bill of Rights lacks clarity, needs stronger enforcement

The federal government released a Blueprint for the Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights (RBR) which was announced as part of the budget 2024. However, the Blueprint lacks clarity on key tenant protections as well how provinces and territories will be held accountable if they don’t do what they say they will.

Many provinces and territories lack any rent control such as Alberta where tenants are getting $1,000 and more rent increases and in some like Ontario and BC, where there is partial rent control which allows landlords to raise the rent above the guideline for various reasons such as capital expenditures. Provinces like Nova Scotia have a temporary rent cap but ACORN found an increasing use of fixed term leases which allows landlords to circumvent the existing rent cap and raise the rent by any amount.

A new CMHC report shows that 22% of renters compared to 6% of owners are in core housing need.

ACORN National President Alejandra Ruiz-Vargas says, “We are in a crisis that is having a profound impact on low- and moderate-income tenants. The blueprint for the Renters’ Bill of Rights needs to be clear. Tenants need real rent control that includes vacancy control and a ban on unaffordable rent increases. There needs to be a ban on fixed term leases. This is the time when we need federal leadership”.

ACORN has been calling on the federal government to set National Tenant Rights Standards as part of the Renters’ Bill of Rights. These standards include rent control, ban on fixed term leases, ban on additional rent increases such as AGIs in Ontario or ARIs in BC and more. Further, in order to ensure that these National Tenant Rights Standards are enforced, the federal government must require provinces and territories to sign bilateral agreements with the federal government just like early childcare agreements to access funding for housing such as the $5 billion Canada Infrastructure Fund, submit action plans and report annually. The funding needs to be contingent on how provinces and territories are progressing in enhancing tenant protections.

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ACORN’s demands for National Tenant Rights Standards:

• A national lease structure that gives tenants security of tenure and limits rent increases
• Rent control – no loopholes
• Ban on unaffordable rent increases
• Ban fixed term leases*(in most circumstances)
• Ban no fault evictions
• Federal money to people in core housing need (no money for luxury rentals)
• More non market housing
• National Fund to help tenants avoid eviction
• Maintain units for healthy/safe living, and harassment free
• Right to organize
• Landlord disclosure and contact information
• Meet with tenant groups to review the effectiveness annually