Posts Tagged ‘Landlord Forum’

BC Landlords Can Raise the Rent 1.4 % in 2021

Friday, September 4th, 2020

How Much Can A Landlord in BC Raise the Rent Next Year?

British Columbia landlords can raise the rent by up to 1.4% in 2021

How is the Rent Increase Guideline Calculated?

The rate is based on inflation. Unlike in past years only the inflation rate is used.

How Does This Compare to Other Provinces?

In Ontario, landlords are faced with the 2021 rent increase being capped at 0%

How Do I Give My Tenants Notice I’m Going to Raise the Rent?

Rent increase documents are available from government Residential Tenancy Branch here

What Does the BCLA Recommend Landlords Due Regarding the Rent Increase Guideline for 2021?

We recommend BC landlords raise the rent the maximum amount of 1.4% in 2021.

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Tenant Screening British Columbia: Fast and Affordable Tenant Credit Checks

Sunday, November 3rd, 2013

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We’re heard about a lot about the challenges British Columbia landlords faced this year.

Most of them involved residential landlords renting to tenants who didn’t pay their rent.

Or tenants who moved in and left leaving thousands of dollars in damages. It also included tenants who harassed their landlords.

Some tenants brag they feel justified in taking these actions because they claim landlords are ‘greedy.’

Tenant Screening

It’s essential landlords conduct proper tenant screening on prospective tenants.

In this day and age renting to someone based on a good conversation or a call to a previous landlord usually isn’t enough.

We’ve heard the stories.

Some of the worst “tenants from hell” were very charming when the landlord first met them.

Some had lots of personal references.This included glowing letters from ‘former landlords’ and ’employers’ and filled with promises to treat your rental property ‘as if it was their own.’

It is easy for landlords to find any kind of tenant for their rental property.  It is much more difficult to find the right tenant who will not pose a risk to your investment. 

There are lots of great tenants out there and you want to make sure you rent to them.

Garda Logo

How Can I Find Good Tenants?

Garda Background Screening Services is proud to partner with the the CLA to help owners screen prospective tenants using our secure online technology – available in French and English – with results available in as little as 24 hours.

Gardas customized suite of services includes a tenant credit check can help provide a snapshot of a renter’s financial history.

Fast and Efficient Tool For BC Landlords

Time-pressed landlords need a tenant screening process that is simple and easy to use. 

Potential renters need only to complete a  consent form. 

The consent form and two pieces of identification are faxed in toll free or emailed into a designated mailbox. 

Get our services and receive special rates.

Should you have any questions, our dedicated account representatives are here to help.

Payment is quick and easy.  Landlords can use a credit card.There are no account set up fees and no contracts to sign. 

British Columbia Landlords only pay for the services they use. 

Results of the checks are emailed to the landlord’s inbox in as little as one business day.

Let Garda help protect your investment and help ensure you find the right tenant.   

Garda is are the country’s largest Canadian-owned background screening company. Garda clients count on us to provide them with the tools to manage risk, reduce losses, and enhance security in a cost effective and timely manner.

Protect Your Investment

Landlords all over British Columbia are being careful who they rent to.

Join the our group and start doing premium credit checks with Canada’s leading background screening company.

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B.C. Landlords Ask: How Much Can I Raise the Rent in 2014?

Sunday, October 13th, 2013

October 13, 2013

How much can i raise the rent in 2014

B.C. Landlords Can Raise the Rent 2.2% in 2014

More and more B.C. homeowners are creating secondary suites in their homes and becoming landlords.

There are lots of things new landlords need to learn to become successful. One of these is making sure you keep your rental property maintained. 

Maintaining Your Rental Property Is Important

Keep your property up can be costly. Some repairs are urgent and obvious. A water pipe might break. A toilet might need to be replaced.

Others might be upgrades to keep your current tenants happy or to make the property attractive to new prospective renters.

How Much Can I Raise The Rent In 2014?

Rent increases are an important part of being a landlord. In 2013 B.C. landlords are allowed to raise the rent 3.8 percent.

In 2014 B.C. landlords can raise the rent by only 2.2 percent.

Why only 2.2%?

In British Columbia the allowable rent increase is based on inflation plus 2 percent.

According to the BC Residential Tenancy Act website:

Annual rent increase

22 (1)  In this section, “inflation rate” means the 12 month average percent change in the all-items Consumer Price Index for British Columbia ending in the July that is most recently available for the calendar year for which a rent increase takes effect.

(2)  For the purposes of section 43 (1) (a) of the Act [amount of rent increase], a landlord may impose a rent increase that is no greater than the percentage amount calculated as follows:

percentage amount = inflation rate + 2%

How Does The B.C. Rent Increase Compare to Other Provinces?

While the rate is low compared to past Rent Increase Guidelines, we are actually getting a pretty good deal in B.C. compared to some other provinces.

Many B.C. landlords aren’t aware that while our Rent Increase Guideline is inflation plus 2 percent most other provinces are only based on the inflation rate.

For example in Ontario landlords can only raise the rent 0.8% in 2014.

In Manitoba landlords can only raise the rent by 2.0% in 2014.

For Landlords From Vancouver to Surrey, To Discuss the 2014 Rent Increase Guideline and Other Landlord Issues Take a Look at the B.C. Landlords Forum

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Latest Craiglist Scam has BC Landlords and Tenants Angry

Sunday, October 6th, 2013

 October 6th, 2013

Craigslist and Kijiji rental scam

Landlords are looking for good tenants.

Tenants are looking for good landlords.

(Of course there are some bad landlords and some bad tenants out there so let them have fun dealing with each other.)

So how can landlords and tenants who both want to meet, rent out a property, and create a mutually beneficial, respectful and lawful relationship meet?

Some people use the local newspaper. More and more landlords and tenants are using Kijiji. Others are using Craigslist.

Craiglist Scam (and Kijiji too!)

This is what makes the latest Craigslist scam even more annoying and making many good landlords upset. Landlords and tenants rely on sites like Craigslist and Kijiji to meet.

We’ve seen these types of scams all over Canada. 

In fact this scam is very similar to what happened to a tenant in Newmarket and hurt a lot of people who wanted rent cottages last summer.

According to CBC News a Kamloops, B.C. landlord  says she is the victim of a fraudster on the internet.

Landlord Nicky Plato says she found out this past summer someone took information from her personal online rental listing on Kijiji.ca

What Did They Do With The Information?

Wait for it…they took the information from the Kijiji ad and created a fake ad with it on Craigslist!

What a Scam!

Yes. On a regular Sunday night Plato answered her door and met a woman who showed up at her door. It was a pizza delivery man, it was a tenant expecting to move in to her property.

According to landlord Plato this ‘tenant’ believed that it was her house and she would begin renting on September 1st.

More Details Please

The woman pointed her to the Craigslist ad.

In the ad tenants were asked for a $450 deposit to be wired to, ahem, secure the lease.

Landlord Plato Fights Back

Plato decided to fight back. She contacted the scammer. She did this by posing as a renter interested in the property.

She was absolutely astonished when the scammer sent her copies of photos of the place. The photos even included one of her in her home.

Plato said: “Literally, the hair on my arms stood up. I really didn’t think that my information would be that vulnerable when I am renting online to local people in Kamloops on Kijiji. I never thought it would be that vulnerable.”

She added “He has my address, my licence plate number, my name, my picture….everything!”

She repeated ‘flagged’ the ad according to Craiglists’ policies for this type of fraud.

It hasn’t worked and the fake landlord keeps posting it.

She even called the fake landlord and demanded he stop it. He won’t.

The RCMP said there isn’t much the force can do because it appears the scammers really are in Africa.

Plato says she just wants it to stop.

To Discuss This And Other Landlord and Tenant Issues Go To the B.C. Landlord Forum

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B.C. Activists Want to Copy The Ontario Landlord and Tenant System

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013

July 2nd, 2013

B.C. landlord and tenant rules Ontario 

Do B.C. Landlords and Tenants Really Want To Follow the Failed Ontario Landlord and Tenant System?

According to an article in the Vancouver Sun  a coalition of legal and tenant’s rights groups want to change the rules for landlords and tenants in British Columbia.

They want to put emphasis on the need to enhance the provincial laws protecting renters.

Because B.C. landlords have it so easy, right?

Not quite

Several groups recommend to make modifications to the B.C. Residential Tenancy Act that governs the renters and landlords relations.

It was pointed out that the B.C. law hasn’t been changed for years and the tenant’s protection has plunged after other provinces like Ontario.

Yes, Ontario.

Where small landlords are struggling to keep afloat and losing thousands of dollars is common.

Where landlords don’t have the tools to deal with serious problems.

Proposed changed to B.C.’s residential tenancy system are as follows:

1.      Putting Off Landlord Retaliation

Supposedly tenants have no defense against their landlord’s retaliation for exercising their rights, like getting their landlord to the Residential Tenancy Branch.

2.      The Right of First Refusal

When tenants are removed from their units for renovation, they should be permitted to return to their units at the previous rental rate. This is the case in other provinces like in Ontario.

3.      Increased Amount of Compensation

When the unit is under repair, the amount of compensation for eviction should be higher from the present one month’s rent to three months, just like in Ontario.

4.      Reinforce Rent Controls

The most permissible rental increase is base on the annual rate of inflation with additional 2%. According to the coalition, the permissible increase is either the inflation rate or a maximum of 2.5%, if the inflation rate is lesser.

5.      Increased Grace Period for Delayed Rent

The eviction notice for nonpayment can be cancelled if the tenants are able to pay their rent and utilities in 5 days. The coalition proposed giving tenants 10 days instead.

Fortunately the NDP lost the recent election. We are calling on the government to start focusing on helping small landlords succeed.

Successful small landlords means more high quality, affordable housing for good tenants. If this is the goal of our provincial government, Ontario is the last place to look for true solutions.

To discuss this and other B.C. landlord and tenant rules and issues go to the B.C. landlord forum

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Education, Advocacy and Services For B.C. Landlords!

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012

BC landlords advice and help

Small residential landlords play an important role in providing high quality affordable housing in our province.

Small residential landlords play an important role in providing high quality affordable housing in our British Columbia.  Small landlords need to be listened to, our concerns heard, and actions taken to ensure we have the ability to continue to operate, make a profit, and continue to provide a high quality housing choice for tenants.

For too many years BC Landlords have lacked a voice and had no access to real help and real tools and services for success.  This website exists to help residential landlords succeed! Join our landlord community for a low one-time registration fee  (no annual fees).  We know small residential landlords are on tight budgets and we are here to help you. We offer you terrific services for only a one time fee…because we are small private landlords just like you!

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