Minimum Standards of Maintenance and Resources for Residential Tenancy Branch and Local Governments to Support Renter Wellbeing

Whereas there are large gaps in resourcing and legislative authority across institutions and levels of government across BC which leave renters vulnerable to poor and potentially hazardous living conditions depending on where they live, as well as an overwhelming lack of capacity and support for the Residential Tenancy Branch RTB to investigate, support and enforce complaints; And whereas climate change is worsening conditions and vulnerabilities for low-income renters: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to strengthen protection of renters health by undertaking the following: - update the minimum standards of rental maintenance to include maximum and minimum safe temperatures and definitions of serious mold concerns, such that health concerns that are likely to increase for renters in the face of a changing climate; - ensure mechanism for enforcement are in place in jurisdictions that do not have standard of maintenance bylaws; - provide resources for local governments to enforce RTB rulings, which may include funding for staff or the creation of provincial positions, including necessitation that concerns are addressed even it the tenant who files them moves, while ensuring meaningful consultation with rural and remote communities to develop supports that will work in their contexts; - provide all local governments the authority to undertake health and hazard related repairs, which would be recovered from offending landlords; and - provide the RTB with additional resources to ensure timely support for adjudication, as well as tracking of health related concerns.