FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2023

Greens call for More Support for Tenants Facing Rent Increases

Charlottetown, PE – Last November, the Legislative Assembly set the allowable rent increase for 2023 at 0%. However, some landlords have nevertheless applied for greater than allowable rent increases of up to 10% or more.

“Our office has been increasingly hearing from Islanders—which includes Islanders with low or fixed incomes, and seniors—who are facing large, unaffordable rent increases from landlords,” said Karla Bernard, Official Opposition Green Critic for Social Development and Housing. “We are disappointed landlords are pursuing these huge rent increases despite a compensation package from government.”

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index data, rent has increased 33% since the King government took office in May 2019. It’s clear Islanders who are already struggling with the high cost of living cannot handle more rent increases under this government.

The Green caucus advocated for the creation of a tenant representative to assist tenants with IRAC proceedings; however, government has still not acted on this recommendation.

As an interim measure, the Green caucus is calling on government to help tenants obtain legal counsel for their rent increase hearings.

“If government does not want to undermine our province’s rent freeze at a time of high inflation, it should immediately step in to make sure Island tenants have access to legal assistance for rent increase hearings so they can fight these proposed rent increases,” said Bernard. “Many of these tenants do not have the legal knowledge to contest these rent increases, nor the financial capacity to obtain legal representation, especially as they brace for a potential rent increase.”

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Hamel
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (902) 213-0718
Email: jdhamel@assembly.pe.ca