Tenant Assistance

A key pillar of support is that tenants have the right to return to the new development at the same rent (plus any Residential Tenancy Act rent increases) to a unit with the same number of bedrooms.

Tenants have flexible options for choosing where they'll live while their building is being redeveloped or renovated. This is called “interim housing” under the policy. Tenants can find their own interim housing or have the developer help them find suitable options. The developer will make every effort to find an interim unit within the same area of Burnaby unless the tenant requests otherwise.

While the redevelopment or renovation project is underway, tenants will receive a rent top-up payment to bridge the gap between the rent they paid for their old unit and what they'll pay for their interim housing.

Rent top-ups are provided one of two ways. If tenants choose to live in interim housing provided by the developer, they'll continue to pay the same rent. If they choose to find their own interim housing, they'll continue to pay the same rent and will receive a rent top-up (paid by the developer) for the difference between the old and new rents up to a calculated maximum. The maximum top-up available is equal to 15% of the tenant’s current rent, or 30% above the median rent for a similar unit in the same neighbourhood, whichever is greater.

Median rents are based on data provided by the federal housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). They can be viewed through the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.

The latest median rents are from 2022 and are provided in the table below.

*Data from 2021; this rate may be adjusted at the City’s discretion.

Moving can be stressful. Developers will help tenants by providing a moving service, or financial compensation if a tenant wants to arrange the move themselves.

Tenants will have the option of either:

• an insured moving company, arranged by the developer, or
• a cash payout based on the unit (studio/one bedroom: $900, two-bedrooms: $1,200, three or more bedrooms: $1,400)

When the Tenant Assistance Policy applies, developers will hire a Tenant Relocation Coordinator to assist tenants and deliver on all the items in the policy.

Tenant Relocation Coordinators are responsive and available to answer questions by phone or email during regular hours. Their contact information will be shared with all tenants and posted in the building.

If you were a resident at one of these addresses on the date specified, and have never been contacted about your Tenant Assistance Policy benefits, please reach out to the Renters Office at [email protected] or 604-294-7750. 

If you have already been in contact with the Renters Office or your Tenant Relocation Coordinator, no further action is needed. 

In 2019, Burnaby became the first city in BC to take advantage of new provincial legislation aimed at protecting and increasing the supply of rental housing in BC.

The legislation allows local governments to establish rental housing as a specific land use in multi-family residential areas. In Burnaby, this is used to require developers to include different types of market and non-market rental units in new housing developments, through the Rental Use Zoning Policy.

If an existing rental building is being redeveloped, the Rental Use Zoning Policy requires that tenants who were displaced from the original building will be offered a new replacement rental unit at the same rent as their old unit (plus any Residential Tenancy Act increases). Replacement rental units in the new building must have the same number of bedrooms as the units they're replacing. If these tenants leave or choose not to return, these units must be made available to other renters at non-market rates. 

Learn more about our Rental Use Zoning Policy.

Section 7.1 of the Tenant Assistance Policy describes the required deliverables. Developers are  also responsible for understanding and adhering to the rest of the policy. Completing the policy is a condition of rezoning. The Renters Office is available to help developers navigate the policy and has templates for most deliverables. 

As a landlord, you have additional responsibilities under the Residential Tenancy Act. You are responsible for knowing and adhering to these and may contact the BC Residential Tenancy Branch if you have questions.
 

If a tenant relocated and was compensated in accordance with the 2015, 2018, or 2020 policy, they may still be eligible under certain parts of the 2023 policy. For assistance, please contact the Renters Office.

If an eligible tenant relocated and was not fully compensated in accordance with the previous policy, they're entitled to receive the provisions of the current policy.