Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) Amendment

The following amendment is submitted by the Residential Rental Association of PEI (RRAP) on behalf of over 50 PEI Housing Providers operating more than 5,000 rental units.

An amendment to the RTA is the ONLY solution to the housing crisis on PEI. Multi-unit housing is unable to operate on PEI given the extremely restrictive rental legislation.

The RRAP is advocating in the strongest possible terms for a simple, fair and logical change in policy to allow for a more competitive and balanced economic environment for housing development on PEI.

It is important to note that this amendment will not affect any existing renters on PEI. It will simply allow housing providers to keep up with the rising costs of operating rental housing by charging an appropriate rent for their rental units once vacated voluntarily.

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AMENDMENT

47. Rent increases

(1) A landlord shall not increase rent except in accordance with this Part.

Obligations tied to rental unit

(2) The obligations of a landlord under this Part run with the rental unit and not the tenant. 2022,c.88,s.47.

AMENDED TO:

47. Rent increases

(1) A landlord shall not increase rent except in accordance with this Part.

Obligations tied to rental unit tenancy agreement.

(2) The obligations of a landlord under this Part run with the rental unit and not the tenant tenancy agreement. 2022,c.88,s.47.

(3) A new rent amount may be charged in a new tenancy agreement where the last tenant has left the rental unit voluntarily or the tenancy agreement has ended in accordance with section 61.

a.      Landlord may increase the rent amount charged by the previous tenant if the tenant has left the unit in accordance with section 47 (3).

b.      The rent increase shall be reasonable in relation to that charged for comparable units in the same geographical area.

We invite comments on our Proposed Amendment.