The Yukon government has announced the decision to remove the rent cap on residential properties, allowing landlords to evict tenants without cause. Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore addressed the Legislative Assembly, emphasizing the need to restore balance in the rental market by amending the Residential Tenancies Act.
Bellmore highlighted that the previous government’s quick implementation of rent control policies had disrupted the rental market, resulting in significant rent hikes and a lack of new rental investments. The rent control policy, introduced in 2021 by the previous government as part of a deal with the NDP, limited rent increases to the average inflation rate of the past two years.
In response to these challenges, the Yukon Party, now holding a majority in the legislature, aims to address the destabilized rental market by eliminating rent control and permitting no-cause evictions. Bellmore mentioned that feedback from both landlords and tenants indicated the current system was ineffective and discouraged housing investments when there was a growing need for more housing options.
Under the proposed amendments, landlords would be required to give tenants a minimum of six months’ notice before raising rent or evicting them, compared to the current three-month notice period for rent increases. Bellmore emphasized that providing tenants with more notice would allow them ample time to plan, adjust, and secure alternative housing if needed.
Opposition leader Kate White criticized the proposed changes, stating they would have a “devastating” impact on many Yukon residents, as it would jeopardize the affordability of their living arrangements and create uncertainty about future rent costs. White also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest among government members who might be landlords themselves, urging those with vested interests to abstain from voting on the amendments.
If approved, the amendments would take effect on December 1, marking the removal of the rent cap in the Yukon.
