I am a small landlord in Canada who recently experienced the devastating impact of a bad tenant. My newly renovated home was destroyed by a tenant evicted for non-payment of rent. When I reported his threats to do so and sought help from the local RCMP, I was turned away. They would not even file a report after the incident. This personal experience has exposed me to the harsh reality that many small landlords face in our country due to inadequate tenancy laws.

By ignoring outdated and ineffective laws the government is effectively contributing to the rental crisis

A poll was conducted by Leger/Vancouver Sun on August 11, 2023, on the Housing Affordability and Rental Concerns in B.C. showed that more than a third of British Columbians revealed they have space in their home that could be rented out but are refusing rentals due to concern over problem tenants. 

RTB hearings are too slow! It can take months of years to get a problem tenant out and some homeowners have lost their property!

Eviction costs are an unnecessary burden on the homeowner and bailiff services are not even affordable by most. Landlords need more power to evict without arbitration in extreme circumstances, no landlord wants to evict a good tenant. A homeowner should have the right to evict in the presence of a police officer. Lack of support from the police is literally forcing people to take matters into their own hands

There is basically no way to hold bad tenants accountable for the money landlords are owed. There should be a mandatory tenant insurance program where expenses like damages, unpaid rent and bailiff fees could be drawn from.

Damage deposits should be increased. Often the minimal amount paid is not a deterrent for the tenant to leave without paying rent or damaging the property. I received 900 dollars which will just cover the cleaning fees, not the 110 in rent I’m owed, hydro that wasn’t paid and the monumental damage that was done. 

Landlords should not be required to pay for storage of a tenants abandoned items for months. The onus should be on the tenant to remove their possessions or forfeit them.

Service methods are outdated, social media apps and text messages should be an acceptable form of service. 

These people have no consequences! The tenant that destroyed my home could be knocking on your door tomorrow and you’d never know. Tenancy branch decisions should be public so problematic tenants or landlords can quickly be identified

I would rather burn my home to the ground than rent it again.

 In Canada, it is estimated that property damage caused by tenants costs landlords approximately $5 billion annually. The current tenancy laws heavily favor tenants, often leaving landlords helpless and bearing heavy financial burdens when things go wrong. 

We need reform that balances the rights and responsibilities between tenants and landlords. Small landlords should not be left vulnerable to financial ruin because of destructive tenants. We propose amendments to Canadian tenancy laws that protect both parties fairly - ensuring quick resolution processes for disputes, stricter penalties for property damage caused by tenants, and more support for small landlords facing such issues.

Canadian tenancy officials are overloaded with cases and it often takes months or years to evict a bad tenant through the current ineffective bureaucratic system. Small landlords have to bear the entire expense of this procedure if they can even afford to, many homeowners have lost their homes due to the loss of rental income, filing fees, bailiff charges, damages, etc. Small landlords need to have more power to act to protect their home in extreme cases and the police need to be mandated to support them.

Whether you are a responsible tenant, someone impacted by a bad tenancy or can empathize with either side, by signing this petition, you are supporting thousands of small landlords across Canada who's homes and peace of mind are at risk due to our current unbalanced tenancy laws .

Let's stand together for fair housing rights - sign this petition today and email Mr. Trudeau with your concerns at Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.ca