Manitoba announces regulations to limit rent increases

Manitobans pleaded and the province listened.

On Tuesday, the provincial government announced its intention to slash above-guideline rent increases by 40 per cent.

It’s something Winnipeg renters are saying will be a massive weight lifted off their shoulders.

The changes in regulations will impose new limits on above-guideline rent increases for capital expenses, which will reduce the cost that can be passed down.

Sue Rehberg came at the expense of a massive rent increase, skyrocketing 113 per cent over two years, forcing her out of her Portage Avenue apartment.

“Had this come earlier, it would have been huge for us,” Rehberg said.

“I’d still be there. And probably a lot of people in that building would still be there”

READ: Winnipeg woman forced to leave apartment after monthly rent skyrockets from $797 to $1,699

Rehberg’s rent increased by almost a thousand dollars per month. After a gruelling back and fourth with property management, the province and the Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB), her relentlessness has finally paid off.

“When you speak out, you will be heard,” she said. “It takes time. It takes a lot of work. We’ve all done a lot of work. But we’ve actually been heard.”

Rehberg says she has “huge hope” for Manitoba tenants.

Effective immediately, the province is making an additional policy change, as tenants will no longer be required to pay any increase prior to the RTB ruling on applications by landlords.

Aidan Wilson’s rent spiked by 54 per cent. He’s opted to stay and fight, and when he got the call that changes were being made, he was overcome with emotions.

“Just a good step in the right direction to strengthening tenants’ rights and hopefully what happened at our buildings going forward,” Wilson said.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said “one of the ways that we can help Manitobans is by making sure people, when they pay their rent, it’s going to be more affordable and there’s going to be confidence that it’s justified if there does have to be an increase.”

Norman, who owns a condo in Osborne Village, sees both sides, as he’s been both a landlord and a tenant.

“A lot of landlords are pretty reasonable,” he said. “But there are definitely some that are trying to take advantage of the system and milk as much money out of their tenants as possible.”