ACORN NB organised a small rally to call for the extension of the rent cap through 2023 because tenants in New Brunswick are concerned about its removal.
The rent ceiling is one measure the government can take to provide some protection for tenants, according to Nichola Taylor, chair of ACORN NB, who claimed that residents face housing insecurity.
There are simply too many people living in challenging circumstances, she stated on Tuesday, therefore we must make the interim rent ceiling permanent. “They put the appropriate step in place in March with the temporary rent cap,” she said.
The government revised the law to allow for a six-month waiting period before a rent increase in March, setting a ceiling at 3.8%.
Taylor referred to possible rent increases as “crazy” and added that “we’re talking 20, 30, 40%.”
These individuals can’t afford to live that way, and they shouldn’t have to choose between putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their heads. We need to do something to stop that from occurring. ’”
Taylor claimed that tenants in the city are unable to pay the rent, but he added that this issue affects all areas of the province.
She added, “We need some wiggle room, some relaxation.
The worst time to be facing any uncertainty in the protections against rent increases or renovictions, according to Angus Fletcher, an organiser with the NB Coalition for Tenants Rights and ACORN.
Winter will soon arrive, he predicted. “The Tories have spoken quite a bit about building their way out of this crisis, but if all they do is build and they have no consumer protections and no price controls then what they’re saying is they are willing to leave those who are middle- and low- income behind.
Fletcher hopes that the government is still debating the rent cap extension but that time is running out because no commitment has yet been made.
Fletcher declared, “The voice of New Brunswickers is on our side.
The New Brunswick Apartment Owners Association asserted that there is insufficient availability despite the regular growth seen by the major city centres.
The rent cap, according to the association’s president Willy Scholten, is not the answer to the issue; rather, incentives to construct and property tax reform are required.
In an interview on Tuesday, he stated, “There absolutely needs to be more done to stimulate additional rent supply.” “I believe the primary issue is at 1,”
7 percent vacancy, and I’d predict that after CMHC releases its reporting once again in January, we’ll probably drop on that. The issue is that we don’t have enough while prices are rising at the same time.
According to Scholten, inflation is a problem for loans as well as building supplies.
Meanwhile, Minister Jill Green, who was recently named minister responsible for housing, has been unwilling to say whether the rent cap will be extended or whether cabinet is discussing it, noting she has only had the file for two weeks.
Green added, “I’m sure you can see the importance of maintaining cabinet confidence. I won’t be commenting about what we’re discussing in cabinet.”
Former Minister Mary Wilson said it was being discussed by cabinet in the house earlier this month prior to her being shuffled out of the role.
The rent cap is set to expire on December 31.
A tenant rights organisation wants the temporary rent cap extended.
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