Advocates call Nanaimo's tentative tenant protection bylaw weak

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The City of Nanaimo is in the process of creating a tenant protection bylaw, but staff are recommending against some of the enhanced protections offered by bylaws in other B.C. communities.

Staff are recommending a bylaw that would apply to redevelopments of buildings with four or more rental units. It is expected to offer displaced tenants four months of rent, as well as moving expenses.

Some communities in B.C. with tenant protection bylaws offer people the opportunity to move back into buildings with a rent that is guaranteed at a certain threshold below market levels.

While Nanaimo’s staff recommendations include a right of first refusal, the suggestion is to leave any discount to the discretion of developers.

Midcoast Morning speaks with a member of the Victoria Tenants Union, a legal advocate from the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre, as well as a planner from Nanaimo about the bylaw that’s in the works.

This is an extended podcast edition of the original broadcast.

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