Spring into rent increases - Vancouver's housing nightmare · 23.04.09 by colin newell
The British Columbia office of residential tenancy has handed down a surprise split decision in a dispute between a group of tenants in the tony west end of Vancouver and their landlord, Gordon Nelson investments.
The owners of the Seafield Apartments had applied to raise the rents in the building by as much as 73 per cent, above and beyond the four per cent allowed under provincial law. The formula – the rate of inflation plus two per cent per year has been the respected standard for the longest time. The tenants fought the increase, telling a dispute resolution officer with the residential tenancy branch the proposed rent increases, some as high as $500 a month, were exorbitant.
Of the 13 units in the building, 4 were determined to be exempt from the increases.
It begs the question though: What is stopping any property owner from comparing his/her place to a neighbors citing “an undervalued property”?
In light of the impending arrival of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, I am prepared to make a couple of prognostications. Rent increases like these are going to become commonplace in an obvious attempt at weeding out the unworthy from “upper-class” environs like West Van and Kits.
The unworthy being anyone falling under the umbrella of “Doesn’t support Gordon Campbell and his Olympic supporting sycophants…”
Secondly, the “War on the Poor” on down and out East Enders is going to be ramped up noticeably as the countdown to Gold in the Host City continues.
In the words of Bob Marley, “Get up, stand up… Stand up for your rights!”
Are now ringing clear and true.
The World around us - in crisis - Ed Begley Junior Spring into B.C. Parks cutback - feeding the Olympic sneaky snake
