BC Government Ends Rental and Age Restrictions for Strata Properties
The Government of B.C. announced changes to legislation that will remove rental restrictions in strata properties and introduced the new Housing Supply Act which will provide select municipalities with increased powers to address housing development. Premier David Eby estimated that 2,900 strata units in B.C. are sitting empty, and said opening up just half of those to renters would help. Amendments to the Strata Property Act will end all strata rental-restriction bylaws and limit age-restriction bylaws so that the only permitted age restriction is to preserve and promote seniors’ housing through the “55 and over” rule in strata housing. Moving forward, it will not be permissible for a strata to have 19-plus age restrictions; however, “seniors only” strata will still be allowed.If approved, the changes to the Strata Property Act would take effect immediately. Bylaws restricting short-term rentals, such as AirBnB, will continue to be allowed.
