A2- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 1, 1994 Renters to benefit from new proposals TENANTS WILL be protected from rent increases judged to be unnecessary if proposed changes to ihe Residential Tenancy Act take hold, says housing minister Joan Smallwood. “Without these changes, there is absolutely no agreement for tenants to deal with rental in- crease,’ said Smallwood of the amendments to become law next December. ‘‘We just want to ensure Fairness in the rental hous- ing market.’ Smallwood made the comments last week after releasing the pro- posed changes. But B.C. Reform leader Jack Weisgerber sees the proposed amendments as a well-disguised form of rent control. “No matter what Smallwood calls it or how hard she tries to cover it up, this is nothing more than a rent control,’* said Weis- gerber. *‘At least Dave Barreti had the courage to call his vision of the legislation by its real name rent control, pure and simple.’’ Whether it’s called rent control or consumer protection, | the Tenants’ Rights Action Coalition (TRAC) likes the plan. ‘We think this package deals with the imbalance in power that’s in the present legislation,” said Kim Zander, TRAC legal worker. ‘‘We've been waiting for ’ this kind of change for over 10 years.” Joan Smallwood : According to Smaliwood, the changes will require landlords to give reasons for rent increases on & government form to be designed this summer. If the tenants consider the in- crease unjust, they can take their complaint to a residential tenancy branch, There, government of- ficers will try to resolve the dis- pute, In cases where it cannot be resolved at.that level, Smaliwood said, an arbitrator will be- as- signed to look over the reasons for rent increases. Rent hikes will be acceptable - (BEATT THE opps) rN McEIhanney British Columbia and Canada Land Surveyors LUNG DISEASE Arm yourself with a} the latest lung Legal and Generai Surveys a> fects from @ Subdivisions m@ Mineral Claims m Rights of Way Lung. “ ™ LotPostings mM Mortgage and ® Land Act Surveys @ Site Surveys Building Certificates Contact: A.S. Dozzi, B.C.L.S., C.LS., Terrace, B.C Phone: 635 7163 Fax: 635 9586 Association, B.C. Lung Association Bos 34009, Station D when based on increases in prop- erly taxes, insurance, utilities, repairs and renovations. Landlords will be able to set whatever rents they want for new units or when new tenants move into existing unis, Once ihe amendments are in place in December 1994, said Smallwood, tenants will have 90 days to dispute rent increases retroactive to December 1993, ‘*This assault on private proper- ty dghts is classic NDP inter- ventionism,’’ said Weisberger. He thinks Smallwood should be encouraging rental construction rather than trying to legislate business morality. **What has always been the best protection for renters is a large supply,’’ Weisgerber sald, ‘‘This is just more interference that dis- courages buiiders,”” The amendments also include protecting tenants from harass- ment in their home. An arbitrator will be able to permit tenants to change locks on their suites and keep the only key in cases of illegal entry by land- lords. ‘We've responded to com- plaints from tenants, especially from women living alone,” Smallwood said, ‘‘Stories about women coming out of the shower to find their landlords in their _ home prompted us to act.’ Inquiries mounting for housing project A SUBSIDIZED housing project has barely broken ground and it’s already been flooded with in- _quiries, says a member of its gov- - erning board. “Fred” “Jones of the Skeena Kalum. Housing Society said more than a 1) calls and queries have come in from those inter- ested in one of the 32 units now under construction. “We've been saying we'll be mailing out application forms,”’ he said (see sidebar story). The $2.2 million project is going up on Haugland, the site of the old city animal shelter, and is scheduled to be finished late this fall. Housing phone line set up PEOPLE INTERESTED in ap- plying for a spot in the Skeena- Kalum Housing society develop- ment now under construction are being asked to phone 635-1996. Society spokesman Keith Goodwin said those calling ihe answering service are asked to leave their name, address and phone number, The society will then send out an application form towards the end of June, All those returning completed forms are then assessed on a points system which takes into account such things as income, the type of accommodation they are in at present, thelr current rent and the number of children they have, he added. - Although the society had to put together a list of applicants when making its bid for the B.C. Hous- ing Management Commission project, Goodwin explained it was necessary to repeat the ox- ercisc. That’s because circumstances might have changed for some of those on the original list so that they no longer required or met the criteria for subsidized housing, Others may have left town in the Interim and there may also be newcomers to the city who qualify, he added. Two-thirds of the money comes from the federal government and one-third from the provincial povernment under @ program run by the provincial government’s B.C. Housing Management Com- mission. The Skeena Kalum Housing Society acts as the middle man between tenants and the commis- sion. Rents are subsidized under a formula based on a tenant’s in- come. There are four four-bedioom units, 12 three-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units, two one- bedroom units and two one- bedroom units built for wheel- chair access. Construction marks the end of a nearly two-year effort to provide social housing in the city. One aspect of the planning for the project involved assembling hundreds of names of people sup- . porting ils construction. Jones said he wasn’t surprised by the number of inquiries or the level of interest. An official groundbreaking ceremony takes place this Friday at 6:30 p.m. In attendance will be society members, those involved in the project’s construction, local politicians and Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Giesbrecht, AL What This Mark OF Drycleaning Excellence Means Bor You, When you see this seal, you are assured of the jatest technolop and equipment, specially wrained personnel an d the rigid santa nds that provide the best drycleaning possibte far yout fine fabrics, It’s your assurance of drycleaning excellence, only from your Cenified Master Drycleaner. Vancouver, B.C, Yl 462 - ts ACADIA NORTHWEST MECHANICAL INC. is pleased to welcome BERT LINDHOUT to the team! 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