The Green party to introduce bill to limit on rent increases

By, Tony Doyle Oct. 14, 2022

Daniel Cousins is outraged about The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission’s decision to raise the maximum allowable rent increase, the largest increase in the last 33 years.

Cousins who, is running for Charlottetown city council, joined 20 other Charlottetown residents in protest in front of province house on September 22.

Cousins believes that an immediate repeal is needed.

The increase goes into effect effective on January 1. A 10.8% increase for apartments that are heated, and a 5.2% increase for everyone else.

IRAC’s justification for the increase was based on PEI’s inflation rate and the costs of owning and operating a rental unit.

Cousins is concerned that P.E.I. lead, the country in inflation and still has a housing crisis.

PEI’s Vacancy rate is 1.5%

“We face a massive housing crisis and people are living in tent cities,” said Cousins.

The Rental of Residential Property Act and associated regulations do not include a cap on rent. Each year, the commission weighs a variety of factors that determine the maximum allowable rent increase that landlords must abide by unless they apply for a greater than allowable increase.

Cousin’s feels that Island renters deserve a break and that there should be no rent increase this year.

Green Party member Hannah Bell agrees with Cousins and believes this issue is going to affect a lot of people like seniors who have fixed incomes.

Residents of Charlottetown gathered at the Confederation house to protest the rent hike. (Tony Doyle photo)

“This could be the thing that tips them into homelessness,” said Bell.

It’s going to push people to have to make a choice between eating or paying rent, she said.

IRAC is an independent agency but appointed by government. In order to make changes to anything it decides the province would have to make changes to legislation.

The Green party plans to introduce a bill today that puts limits on maximum allowable rent increases.