Residential Tenancy Dispute Fees Doubled by Province

The B.C. government is putting more people at risk of homelessness by doubling the cost of resolving landlord-tenant disputes through the Residential Tenancy Branch, anti-poverty advocates say.

The Together Against Poverty Society warned Friday that raising application fees to $100 from $50 will deter cash-strapped tenants from standing up for their rights.

“This will impact the levels of homelessness, the levels of people living in sub-standard housing,” said Kelly Newhook, society executive director. “If you’re wrongfully evicted, and you don’t have the money, you don’t know there’s a fee waiver, then you’re out of a house and you’re in a very precarious situation in Victoria to be looking for anything affordable.”

See Times Colonist Article here.