CHANGES TO ZONING AND TENANCY AGREEMENTS

The province has moved to increase supply to the BC housing market by legislating that more residential units to be built on lots now zoned for single-family homes or duplexes. Their hope is to increase supply to “missing middle” property types, such as laneway homes,  duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and low-rise condos. 

With increased density, more homeowners could become landlords if they choose to build rental properties on their land, which in turn will be effected by new rules surrounding tenancies.

Starting July 18, 2024, landlords will be required to use the Landlord Use Web Portal to generate Notices to End Tenancy for personal occupancy or caretaker use. By requiring landlords to include information of who will be occupying the home on the notice, tenants can have a better sense of the landlords’ intentions and may provide this information at the dispute hearing if they believe the landlord is acting in bad faith.

Under the Residential Tenancy Act, a landlord can evict a tenant if the following people will be moving in:

• they or a close family member (parent, spouse or child);

• a purchaser of the property or a close family member of the purchaser; or

• a superintendent for the building.

Landlords will also be required to give tenants 4 months’ notice instead of 2 months when evicting and tenants will have 30 days to dispute Notices to End Tenancy instead of the current 15 days. The person moving into the home must live in it for a minimum of 12 months and landlords who evict in bad faith could be ordered to pay the displaced tenant 12 months’ rent. For greater details visit the BC website: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HOUS0115-001044

It continues to be an active year. Contact me today to learn more about the zoning changes or to discuss your real estate questions.

-Dan Pigott
604-862-4124   dan@pigottproperties.com