The province is extending the temporary rental supplement (TRS) program until the end of August to support renters and landlords.
The moratorium on rent increases and evictions for non-payment of rent will also continue.
People who have already been approved for the supplements shouldn’t reapply. They will receive an email asking them to confirm they plan to live at the same address through July and August.
New applications will also be accepted until Aug. 31 and will be eligible for a supplement for the month they are received and all subsequent months.
The moratorium on evictions has been in effect since March 30 and will continue for non-payment of rent.
However, the ban on evictions for reasons other than unpaid rent will be lifted later this month.
Province said it will give people advance notice before lifting the moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent at a future date.
It will put in place a framework that will require landlords to work with tenants to repay rent owing over a reasonable period of time.
However, tenants who have not experienced financial difficulties are expected to continue to pay rent. Tenants will also be responsible for outstanding rent when the ban on evictions for non-payment is lifted.
With these changes, landlords will also be able to serve new notices for reasons including landlord/purchaser use, such as where a new owner has purchased a property and intends to move in, and for cause (e.g., where a tenant is putting the landlord or other tenants at risk, or has sublet the apartment without permission, etc).
Depending on the type, these will require a notice period of between one and four months.
When the new order comes in later this month, landlords will also be allowed to access units for activities such as repairs, maintenance and showing of the unit, following the standard notice period.
Landlords will continue to be able to set restrictions on shared spaces to ensure physical distancing, such as limiting the number of people in elevators and laundry rooms, and in places where adequate cleaning cannot be maintained, such as gyms.
