PCs Stand Up for Renters; Delay Legislation That Will See Rents Rise, Rental Housing Stock Deteriorate
WINNIPEG — Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have designated Bill 13, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, because the proposed changes are anti-tenant and will lead to the deterioration of rental housing stock across Manitoba. Designating Bill 13 will hold the legislation over until the fall, allowing Manitobans, industry experts, and renters more time to consult and consider amendments.
“We are standing up for tenants. This legislation will lead to the deterioration of rental housing stock across Manitoba,” said Borderland MLA Josh Guenter, PC Critic for Residential Tenancies. “This anti-tenant bill will reduce investment in rental units, decrease the number of available units, and lead to higher rents.”
The proposed changes reduce the claimable portion of capital expenses in above-guideline rent increase applications to 50%. That means that a landlord who spends $100,000 fixing a roof or replacing flooring would only be able to recoup $50,000. The monthly rent-control exemption threshold would also rise from $1,670 to $2,000.
“Those changes are bad for tenants, because some landlords might raise their rents over $2,000 so that they’re above the rent-control threshold,” said Guenter. “And by reducing the amount of claimable capital expenses by 50%, the condition of rental units will deteriorate because there is no financial incentive to maintain high-quality rental properties.”
Guenter fears Bill 13 will discourage investment in rental stock in Manitoba. “At a time when we need greater supply of units to bring down rents, this bill may have the opposite effect and lead to less investment, fewer available units, and higher rents as a result.”
Designating Bill 13 will move it to the fall legislative agenda, giving Manitobans and renters more time to learn about the bill and convince the NDP that this legislation needs to be scrapped.
-30-
For media inquiries, please contact PCCaucus_Media@strongermanitoba.ca