Tenants can now be evicted after ban partly lifted

The B.C. government has partially lifted a ban on residential rental evictions, but is maintaining the moratorium on rent increases and evictions for non-payment of rent.

B.C. has also extended a rental relief program that provides $300 to $500 per month in rental supplements, paid directly to landlords, until the end of August.

The province said between April 9 and June 15, B.C. Housing received more than 90,000 applications for the temporary rent supplement, with nearly 82,500 eligible applications confirmed.

According to surveys by Goodman Commercial Inc. and CBRE, about 97 per cent of residential tenants paid their rent in April, May and June.

Since July 2: • A landlord can now issue a notice to end tenancy for a variety of reasons (other than unpaid or late payment of rent). • Landlords with existing orders for eviction can now take them to the courts for enforcement and can enforce a writ order effective immediately. • Landlords can enter a rental suite with 24 hours notice and do not need the tenant’s consent. They are expected to follow health guidelines such as physical distancing, cleaning and wearing masks when appropriate.

The change also allows for personal service of documents to resume, rather than via email.

Landlords’ ability to restrict access to common spaces for coronavirus-related health reasons remains.

“A tenant who has not paid rent could face eviction once the state of emergency is over,” the government cautioned.