A Vancouver woman who is eight months pregnant has received a troubling ultimatum from her landlord. Joy Maynard and Antoine Moore, expecting their first child, have been living in a basement apartment since April 2021. However, their landlord recently informed them that their rent will increase once the baby is born.
Image VIA Globalnews.ca
When the couple told the landlord about the pregnancy during the summer they were told to speak to the owner’s son about the matter. This is when they learned that having an additional occupant, including the baby and Maynard’s visiting mother, would cost them an extra $600 per person per month.
Maynard and Moore argue that they understood “additional occupant” to mean a working adult, not a baby or a temporary visitor as her mom is only coming for 3 weeks. They feel overwhelmed by the unexpected financial burden that awaits them with the arrival of their newborn.
If they refuse to pay the increased costs, the son has threatened them with eviction on January 2nd, just one day before the baby is due. Despite their attempts to negotiate, the couple has found no compassion or understanding from their landlord.
Searching for a new place to live has proven challenging due to the current rental market. They are disappointed that they are experiencing this situation at such an important time in their lives.
B.C.’s Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon, condemned the landlord’s actions and called for stronger protections for tenants in these situations. While the law allows for rent increases for additional occupants, experts argue that the lack of regulation in defining terms and setting limits creates opportunities for exploitative landlords.
In the meantime, Maynard and Moore hope for a change of heart from their landlord or find a suitable alternative in a difficult housing market.
Attempts to reach the landlord for comment by Global News have been unsuccessful so far.
Legal expert Robert Patterson suggests carefully reviewing tenancy agreements before signing them to be aware of any potential pitfalls. He calls for clearer regulations and caps on rent increases for additional occupants to protect tenants from being taken advantage of.
The struggle faced by this couple highlights the need for stronger tenant protections and regulations to ensure that they aren’t penalized by starting a family.
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