The maximum allowable rent increase for B.C. has been set at 2.2 per cent for 2027, the province announced Thursday. The rate is tied to inflation and comes on the heels of a report showing average rents in British Columbia have dropped year-over-year, according to a statement from the housing ministry. “At a time when many people are feeling the impact of rising costs, linking rent increases to inflation helps renters, including seniors and families, meet their housing expenses, while also ensuring landlords can continue providing stable, well-maintained homes for renters for years to come,” Housing Minister Christine Boyle said, in the statement. Landlords are required to give minimum three months notice of a rent increase, and it must not exceed the limit set by the government. For a unit renting at $2,000 the maximum increase works out to $44 per month or $528 annually. “The rent increase does not apply to commercial tenancies, non-profit housing tenancies where rent is geared to income, co-operative housing and some assisted-living facilities,” the statement from the ministry said.
