NEW RENTAL LEGISLATION MEANS CHANGES FOR SENIORS, LANDLORDS AND FIXED-TERM TENANCIES

The Government of Saskatchewan is enhancing the rights of seniors and providing additional protection for tenants.

Amendments to The Residential Tenancies Regulations, 2007, will among other things, provide seniors residing in independent living facilities with the right to use the Office of Residential Tenancies to resolve disputes. This comes into effect on April 1, 2013.

"Seniors' independent living facilities are exempt from the current law and we could see no reason for that," Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. "This change puts them on equal footing with other rental properties."

The amended regulations also contain rules regarding fixed-term tenancies. Currently, a landlord does not have to notify a tenant about their plans for the property once the lease expires, such as whether they would be willing to continue renting or if the rent would increase. Under the new regulations, landlords are required to provide tenants with two months notice about their intentions and tenants are given one month to respond.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act, 2012 will take effect November 15, 2012. Among the changes, landlords will have to belong to an approved Association of Landlords in order to increase rent for periodic tenancies more than once a year. Landlords who belong to an approved association can increase rent on their properties once every six months. The amended regulations will support this Act by designating the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Industry Association as an Association of Landlords.

"Saskatchewan's rental market is very tight, with vacancy rates extremely low in some cities," Wyant said. "These changes will provide tenants with additional protection from facing the burden of large rent increases in a short amount of time."

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For more information, contact:

Noel Busse
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8959
Email: noel.busse@gov.sk.ca