The Ultimate Guide to Rent Increases in BC
Aug 28, 2024
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Renting in British Columbia isn't cheap—the average one-bedroom in Vancouver goes for $2,761, making it the priciest in Canada as of August 2024. Factor in bills, subscriptions, and groceries, and you’re easily over $3,000 a month. So what happens when your landlord decides to raise the rent?
It can be a stressful situation, but don’t worry–we’ve got you. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about rent increases in BC, so you can stay informed and be ready for the inevitable rent increase.
Read about tenant rights in BC and the rules surrounding rent increases in all other provinces.
Rules for Rent Increases in BC
As BC is a rent-controlled province, landlords must follow certain rules and regulations before raising the rent. Here’s what you need to know.
How Often and How Much Can Your Rent Be Raised in BC?
The rent increase limit in BC for 2024 is 3.5%. If utilities and other fees are included in the rent and their costs are higher, the landlord cannot increase the rent beyond this amount.
Landlords can only increase the rent once every 12 months. If the rent has been increased during an existing tenancy and a new tenant moves in, but it has not yet been 12 months, they must wait for that one-year mark to increase the rent.
BC Rent Increase Form
BC landlords must provide at least three months’ notice of the rent increase using the form RTB-7 Notice of Rent Increase BC. This written notice must include the date the increase goes into effect and the exact dollar amount.
Exemptions to Rent Increases in BC
There are three exemptions to the BC rent increase rules:
If a tenant lives in non-profit housing encompassing section 2 of the Residential Tenancy Regulation and their rent is related to their income, the rent increase rules do not apply.
If you want to get a roommate or add someone to your lease, check your tenancy agreement. The landlord may be allowed to raise the rent for additional occupants (but only if you specified how much in the tenancy agreement). See more about rent increases for additional occupants here.
If the landlord wants to increase the rent by more than 3.5%, the Residential Tenancies Board can grant permission for them to do so.
How to Dispute a Rent Increase in BC
If your landlord tries to raise your rent by more than 3.5% or if they did not give you three months' written notice, you can apply for dispute resolution. Try to communicate with your landlord first, but if nothing gets resolved, go to the RTB.
Note that even if you are going through a dispute resolution process, you must still keep paying your rent.
If you have paid a rent increase higher than the legal amount, you can deduct this overpayment from future rent payments. You’ll need to explain in writing why you are not paying the increased amount the landlord requested.
Photo by Spencer Watson on Unsplash
How Are Rent Increases Calculated?
BC rent increases are calculated yearly based on the Consumer Price Index for the province. The BC rent increase in 2024 is 3.5%, and landlords cannot surpass that unless they get permission from the RTB.
You can use the rent increase calculator to determine how much your landlord can raise your rent when your lease renews.
Here’s an example of how a rent increase of 3.5% can affect your monthly rent payments:
Your rent is $2,500 a month. It has been 12 months, and the landlord is implementing a 3.5% rent increase.
A 3.5% increase on $2,500 = $87.50.
$2,500 + $87.50 = $2,587.50
Your new monthly rent is $2,587.50.
Historical BC Rent Increases
Before 2018, rent increases were capped at the inflation rate plus 2%. After that, increases were reduced to only the inflation rate.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government put a rent increase freeze in place. The maximum rent increase in BC is now capped at 3.5%, the highest since 2018.
Here’s a snapshot of rent increases in BC throughout the past ten years:
2024: 3.5%
2023: 2%
2022: 1.5%
2021: 0%
2020: 2.6%
2019: 2.5%
2018: 4.0%
2017: 3.7%
2016: 2.9%
2015: 2.5%
2014: 2.2%
Rent Assistance Programs in BC
BC Housing offers a few rental assistance programs to help low-income tenants. We’ll cover them briefly here, but keep an eye out for a future post on government benefits for renters in BC.
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
RAP provides eligible low-income working families with assistance to help with their monthly rent payments. To qualify, families must have a yearly household income of $40,000 or less, have been working within the last year, and have at least one dependent child. Find out how much you could receive with this calculator.
Canada-BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB) Program
The CBCHB program is subject to available funding. There is no direct application process–this benefit is distributed to eligible renters selected from The Housing Registry. It makes rent more affordable for those who don’t qualify for other rental assistance programs.
The BC rent bank offers financial assistance and advice for low-to-moderate-income renters. To qualify, you must be experiencing a crisis that has impacted your ability to pay rent or utilities, be owing less than $3,500 in rent or utilities, and provide proof of income. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply here.
Renting in BC can be difficult, especially as it has some of the highest average rent prices in Canada. If you pay rent every month, why not let it work for you? With Chexy, you can pay rent with your credit card and earn rewards, cashback, or points that can be redeemed for free flights and other perks.
Subscribe to our newsletter below for up-to-date credit card, travel, and rental content.
FAQs
Do rent increase caps help everyone in BC?
A rent cap prevents landlords from raising the rent too much, but this really only helps current renters. If someone moves out of a rental property, the landlord can increase the rent to whatever they want before the next tenant moves in–they don’t have to follow the same 3.5% cap.
Where can I find a BC rental application form?
You can find all tenancy forms here, including the residential tenancy agreement, notice of rent increase, and dispute resolution forms. Here is a sample BC rental application form.
Can a landlord raise the rent if another person moves in BC?
The landlord may be able to raise your rent if another person moves in and gets added to the lease. However, they can only do so if it is specified in the tenancy agreement.
Renting in British Columbia isn't cheap—the average one-bedroom in Vancouver goes for $2,761, making it the priciest in Canada as of August 2024. Factor in bills, subscriptions, and groceries, and you’re easily over $3,000 a month. So what happens when your landlord decides to raise the rent?
It can be a stressful situation, but don’t worry–we’ve got you. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about rent increases in BC, so you can stay informed and be ready for the inevitable rent increase.
Read about tenant rights in BC and the rules surrounding rent increases in all other provinces.
Rules for Rent Increases in BC
As BC is a rent-controlled province, landlords must follow certain rules and regulations before raising the rent. Here’s what you need to know.
How Often and How Much Can Your Rent Be Raised in BC?
The rent increase limit in BC for 2024 is 3.5%. If utilities and other fees are included in the rent and their costs are higher, the landlord cannot increase the rent beyond this amount.
Landlords can only increase the rent once every 12 months. If the rent has been increased during an existing tenancy and a new tenant moves in, but it has not yet been 12 months, they must wait for that one-year mark to increase the rent.
BC Rent Increase Form
BC landlords must provide at least three months’ notice of the rent increase using the form RTB-7 Notice of Rent Increase BC. This written notice must include the date the increase goes into effect and the exact dollar amount.
Exemptions to Rent Increases in BC
There are three exemptions to the BC rent increase rules:
If a tenant lives in non-profit housing encompassing section 2 of the Residential Tenancy Regulation and their rent is related to their income, the rent increase rules do not apply.
If you want to get a roommate or add someone to your lease, check your tenancy agreement. The landlord may be allowed to raise the rent for additional occupants (but only if you specified how much in the tenancy agreement). See more about rent increases for additional occupants here.
If the landlord wants to increase the rent by more than 3.5%, the Residential Tenancies Board can grant permission for them to do so.
How to Dispute a Rent Increase in BC
If your landlord tries to raise your rent by more than 3.5% or if they did not give you three months' written notice, you can apply for dispute resolution. Try to communicate with your landlord first, but if nothing gets resolved, go to the RTB.
Note that even if you are going through a dispute resolution process, you must still keep paying your rent.
If you have paid a rent increase higher than the legal amount, you can deduct this overpayment from future rent payments. You’ll need to explain in writing why you are not paying the increased amount the landlord requested.
Photo by Spencer Watson on Unsplash
How Are Rent Increases Calculated?
BC rent increases are calculated yearly based on the Consumer Price Index for the province. The BC rent increase in 2024 is 3.5%, and landlords cannot surpass that unless they get permission from the RTB.
You can use the rent increase calculator to determine how much your landlord can raise your rent when your lease renews.
Here’s an example of how a rent increase of 3.5% can affect your monthly rent payments:
Your rent is $2,500 a month. It has been 12 months, and the landlord is implementing a 3.5% rent increase.
A 3.5% increase on $2,500 = $87.50.
$2,500 + $87.50 = $2,587.50
Your new monthly rent is $2,587.50.
Historical BC Rent Increases
Before 2018, rent increases were capped at the inflation rate plus 2%. After that, increases were reduced to only the inflation rate.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government put a rent increase freeze in place. The maximum rent increase in BC is now capped at 3.5%, the highest since 2018.
Here’s a snapshot of rent increases in BC throughout the past ten years:
2024: 3.5%
2023: 2%
2022: 1.5%
2021: 0%
2020: 2.6%
2019: 2.5%
2018: 4.0%
2017: 3.7%
2016: 2.9%
2015: 2.5%
2014: 2.2%
Rent Assistance Programs in BC
BC Housing offers a few rental assistance programs to help low-income tenants. We’ll cover them briefly here, but keep an eye out for a future post on government benefits for renters in BC.
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
RAP provides eligible low-income working families with assistance to help with their monthly rent payments. To qualify, families must have a yearly household income of $40,000 or less, have been working within the last year, and have at least one dependent child. Find out how much you could receive with this calculator.
Canada-BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB) Program
The CBCHB program is subject to available funding. There is no direct application process–this benefit is distributed to eligible renters selected from The Housing Registry. It makes rent more affordable for those who don’t qualify for other rental assistance programs.
The BC rent bank offers financial assistance and advice for low-to-moderate-income renters. To qualify, you must be experiencing a crisis that has impacted your ability to pay rent or utilities, be owing less than $3,500 in rent or utilities, and provide proof of income. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply here.
Renting in BC can be difficult, especially as it has some of the highest average rent prices in Canada. If you pay rent every month, why not let it work for you? With Chexy, you can pay rent with your credit card and earn rewards, cashback, or points that can be redeemed for free flights and other perks.
Subscribe to our newsletter below for up-to-date credit card, travel, and rental content.
FAQs
Do rent increase caps help everyone in BC?
A rent cap prevents landlords from raising the rent too much, but this really only helps current renters. If someone moves out of a rental property, the landlord can increase the rent to whatever they want before the next tenant moves in–they don’t have to follow the same 3.5% cap.
Where can I find a BC rental application form?
You can find all tenancy forms here, including the residential tenancy agreement, notice of rent increase, and dispute resolution forms. Here is a sample BC rental application form.
Can a landlord raise the rent if another person moves in BC?
The landlord may be able to raise your rent if another person moves in and gets added to the lease. However, they can only do so if it is specified in the tenancy agreement.