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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Time to update rent legislation
Opinion Housing in Manitoba is becoming increasingly out of reach for too many families. Renters across Winnipeg, Brandon and rural communities alike are feeling the squeeze. Monthly costs are rising faster than incomes and too many tenants are facing steep rent hikes with little warning or justification. It's clear the current rent-control system is no longer working as intended. The Manitoba NDP government must step up and fix it — starting with closing the loophole that allows landlords to sidestep rent control limits under the guise of renovations. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Finance Minister Adrien Sala This is not a fringe issue, nor a technical one buried in obscure policy. It is front and centre in the lives of thousands of Manitobans who are being priced out of their homes by a provision that was once meant to preserve housing quality, but is now being used as a tool of displacement. Under current rules, landlords can apply to the Residential Tenancies Branch for above-guideline rent increases if they complete certain capital upgrades or building improvements. The policy, at its core, was designed to allow landlords to recover the costs of major repairs like roof replacements, heating systems or insulation upgrades — necessary investments in the long-term livability and safety of rental units. But in recent years, that allowance has been stretched far beyond its original intent. Cosmetic renovations, hallway makeovers, new flooring or lighting fixtures are now routinely used to justify rent hikes that go well above the province's annual guideline. Some tenants have reported increases of 20 per cent or more, pricing them out of buildings they've lived in for decades. This growing problem didn't escape notice when the NDP sat in opposition. MLA Adrien Sala, now the finance minister, introduced a private member's bill while in opposition that aimed to reform rent control. His proposal sought to better define what qualified as legitimate capital expenditures, impose limits on how much and how often rents could be increased above the guideline, and make the process more transparent and accessible to tenants. That bill never passed (opposition bills rarely do) but the work behind it laid an important foundation. Now that the NDP is in government, the province is in a position to act and should do so without delay. The policy path is already clear. A reintroduced and strengthened version of Sala's bill should include a tightened definition of eligible renovations, meaning only essential upgrades that improve the safety, efficiency, or structural integrity of a building — such as plumbing, heating or windows — should qualify. Annual increases should also be capped to protect tenants from sudden, unaffordable jumps in rent. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. These reforms are not radical. They reflect best practices seen in other provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, and they are being actively called for by tenant advocacy groups such as the Right to Housing Coalition, which continues to push for a fairer system. Landlords will argue that tighter rules will discourage investment in rental properties. But responsible landlords who maintain their buildings and charge fair rents already comply with the spirit of the law. It is the exploitative operators — those who treat housing as a speculative asset rather than a public necessity — who benefit from the current ambiguity. Premier Wab Kinew has repeatedly said that housing is a human right. That statement must now be backed by policy. Bringing in strong, clear legislation on rent control — with limits on renovation-based rent hikes — would be a major step toward making good on that promise. For too long, Manitoba's renters have been left vulnerable to an uneven playing field. The solution is on the table. The moment to act is now.
Global News
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Heat wave creates AC ‘guessing game' for Winnipeg landlords, tenants
As temperatures soar in Winnipeg this week, many apartment dwellers are forced to sweat it out without air conditioning. With highs well into the 30s C, Winnipeggers are feeling the heat, but many buildings aren't ready to flip the switch to AC just yet. The Residential Tenancies Branch sets a minimum temperature that all landlords must keep their buildings at throughout the winter, but there's no maximum temperature for the summer before the air needs to come on. Avrom Charach of the Professional Property Managers Association told Global Winnipeg that it's a tricky situation, as the HVAC systems in some buildings require some time to fully switch over from heating to cooling, and a sudden heat wave like the one Winnipeg is experiencing is hard to plan for. 'If you decided today you want to turn on the cooling, it's going to take days before it's turned on,' Charach said. Story continues below advertisement 'You have to be careful, because once you turn the cooling on, you can't turn the heat (back) on … so should there be a sudden cold snap, now you may violate the minimum temperature, because your building may go below 18 degrees at night.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy And the forecast for the next week or so in Winnipeg bears that out — after a few really hot days, the temperatures are expected to plummet close to zero later this week. Charach said most landlords have to take a best-guess approach as to when to make the switch. 'Often it's looking at the long-term forecast,' he said. 'Of course, during March and April, you're not going to be looking too closely, but by the beginning of May, property managers would be looking at the May long-term forecast, the June long-term forecast. 'Some time after the (May) long weekend tends to be usually when you would swap over.' The logistics of when to turn on the AC, however, are little comfort to Winnipeggers who are feeling the heat right now. 'It'll be like entering a sauna. No word of a lie — I sit and all the sweat just drains off of me, it's terrible,' Sarah Kitcher, who lives in an apartment block on Adamar Road, told Global Winnipeg. Story continues below advertisement 'This heat is also creating headaches for me. I've been using cool cloths.'
