It seems that in 2019 approximately one third or MORE of apartment renters in major cities in Alberta and Saskatchewan moved. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) data tables for 2019  revealed the following turnover rates for major centres across Canada (See NOTES A & B):

• Lethbridge, Alberta – 37.9%
• Regina, Saskatchewan – 37.7%
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - 34.5%
• Calgary, Alberta  – 33.3%
• Edmonton, Alberta  – 29.4%
• Winnipeg, Manitoba  – 24.4%
• Halifax, Nova Scotia  – 18.8%
• Ottawa-Gatineau (Ont. Part) – 17.9%
• CANADA – 17.1%
• Montreal, Quebec - 15.7%
• Vancouver, British Columbia – 13.6%
• Toronto, Ontario – 9.5%

WHY would so many MORE people MOVE from their apartment in Alberta and Saskatchewan than in other cities in CANADA?  It seems to be due to the lack of rent protection.  Apparently in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, landlords are allowed to increase rents by as much as they want within a specified period of time (typically 1 year/365 days).  See:

• Alberta Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations
• Saskatchewan - Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants (with Residential Tenancies Act and Regulations effective March 1, 2007)  and Rent Increases (Saskatchewan)

Such HIGH apartment turnover is UNDESIRABLE for Tenant- and Community- prosperity as well as crime prevention, mental health/mental wellness and the COVID-19 pandemic.  Implement the following to foster rental market stability:

1. Set apartment rents to be “affordable” – based on 30% of pre-tax household income. (See NOTE C.)  “Affordable housing is foundational to community prosperity”:  The City of Calgary (See NOTE D.) 
2. Set 0% rent increase for 2020. Post COVID-19:  base rent increases on 12-month running average of Consumer Price Index with additional amounts for valid capital improvements and “rent increase” guidance provided to renters 6 months in advance of rent increase year.
3. NO evictions for rent non-payment during 2020 due to financial reasons– with exceptions for safety reasons.
4. Implement a Mental Health-Affordable Housing Fund to provide relief to renters – including from rent-gouging by landlords.
5. Implement a Mental Health-Affordable Housing Property Tax/Fine to discourage landlords from rent gouging/inappropriate conduct and to fund affordable housing initiatives.
6. Eliminate cash “rental incentives” – only allow “rent’.
7. Provide a Tenant Loyalty Program to reward long stay-low cost tenants, seniors, low-and-moderate income earners (including front line workers in retail and health care)…
8. Require highly profitable Landlords to pay their FAIR SHARE.

THANK YOU, fellow Canadians, for signing the petition!!  It really does help.  Let’s PROTECT RENTERS:  let’s make it a WIN-WIN-WIN solution for Renters and Community as well as Landlords.  Please pass the petition on to others!

Stay safe, stay healthy!                                               

Anne

We the Courageous

NOTE A.  Definition of turnover as per the CMHC in the Rental Market Reports – Major Centres for Calgary CMA, Date Released 2020, page 9:  “A unit is counted as being turned over if it was occupied by a new tenant moved in during the past 12 months. A unit can be counted as being turned over more than once in a 12-month period.”

NOTE B:  See apartment turnover for 2019 in CMHC Rental Market Report Data Tables – for CANADA, Table 1.0.

NOTE C: See CMHC definition of “affordable housing”.   

NOTE D:  Foundations for Home Calgary’s Corporate Affordable Housing Strategy 2016-2025, page 4.