The Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights: A Critical Opportunity to Uphold the Human Right to Housing
OTTAWA (September 16, 2024): Today the federal government announced the new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights—a long-waited framework attached to the $5 billion in funding available to provinces and territories through a new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund.
As part of receiving this funding, province and territories will be asked to “to take measures to advance the rights of renters”—including implementing the measures from the Renters’ Bill of Rights—and report annually on “how they are advancing the rights of renters in their jurisdictions as an element of broader efforts to fulfill the right to adequate housing for all.”
The Renters’ Bill of Rights was first introduced in the federal government’s Budget 2024 and promised to “crack down on renovictions, introduce a nationwide standard lease agreement, and require landlords to disclose historical rent prices of apartments.”
Today’s announcement sets out four key principles outlined within the Renters’ Bill of Rights aimed to improve fairness, equality, and affordability for renters, including:
- Ensuring everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home;
- Fostering fairness and transparency;
- Addressing inequity and discrimination, and;
- Safeguarding the system.
Within these four principles, the Bill includes critical measures to strengthen tenant protections including:
- Establishing and maintaining rental assistance programs, rent banks, and protections against excessive rent increases;
- Establishing mechanisms to publicly track rent increases and reasons for eviction;
- Engaging in outreach to understand the experiences of vulnerable and equity-denied groups to address discriminatory practices;
- Implementing meaningful deterrents and effective enforcement mechanisms for bad faith actors;
- Ensuring tenants are aware of their rights and providing legal aid to even the playing field for renters;
The Renters’ Bill of Rights re-affirms the federal government’s commitment to uphold the human right to housing—as set out under the National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA)—and recognizes that all levels of government “share a responsibility to fulfill the right to adequate housing by providing the necessary investments to address core housing need and by providing affordable and non-market housing options to Canadians.”
We look forward to continue working with the federal government to ensure the Renters’ Bill of Rights aligns with Canada’s right to housing obligations as it is enacted—to move forward concrete measures as called for by tenant organizers across the country like rent control, vacancy control, and access to justice for tenants.
Stay tuned to NRHN’s channels as we amplify and share the reactions of our partners in the housing justice sector to the Government of Canada’s announcement!
Quick Facts:
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Budget 2024 takes steps towards making the fundamental human right to adequate housing a reality in Canada by demonstrating national leadership in addressing critical areas like tenant rights, affordable housing, and homelessness.