In the deepening housing crisis in British Columbia, marked by a dwindling supply and a steep rise in rental costs, a rally took to the streets outside the legislature, demanding implementation of vacancy control measures in the province. Participants of the rally were vocal about the struggle to meet the escalating rental demands, given that wage growth has not been at par with the soaring cost of rent.
The problem cuts a wide swath across the province’s population as one in three people identify themselves as renters. Many recount stories of evictions manipulated through legal subterfuges, permitting the landlords to enhance the rental charge for their units.
Stephanie Smith, president of the BC General Employees Union, one of the province’s largest labour unions with over 85,000 members aids the clamour for vacancy control. She informed that negotiating for salary increments to counterbalance the surging rents proved futile for the union. According to her, vacancy control could provide instant relief by curtailing the spiralling rents that accompany new tenancies.
In practice, vacancy control proposes tying rental increases to the actual housing unit rather than specific tenancy agreements. Dissuading landlords from raising the price precipitously when a tenant moves out is the central idea of this proposal.
On the other hand, Landlord BC believes such measures will not alleviate the province’s housing crisis. They argue that it could discourage investment in housing supply as inflation outstrips revenues and hinder the establishment of purpose-built rental buildings that are in dire need.
Emma White, a vacancy control campaigner with Together Against Poverty, calls for more support for the cause. Despite having advocated for vacancy control for several years, her group has faced resistance, mainly due to fears of destabilizing the massive and profitable development industry in the province.
Despite the outcry, the provincial governments argue that they have been proactive in safeguarding renters’ interest. They cite 2018’s Rental Housing Task Force and the recent declaration of an annual permitted rent increase of 3.5% in 2024, albeit 1.5% higher than the previous year. They also caution that vacancy controls might inadvertently lead to a loss of affordable rental houses. Nonetheless, the BCGEU disputes these findings.
Internecine debates notwithstanding, the province’s decision holds sway in determining the course of action.