Context of Burnaby’s Tenant Assistance Policy (TAP)
The City of Burnaby introduced the Tenant Assistance Policy (TAP) to support renters displaced by redevelopment projects, especially affecting purpose-built market rental buildings with five or more units. The policy aims to minimize costs tenants face during displacement by offering assistance such as help finding new housing, rent top-ups to cover increased rental costs, moving financial support, and the right to return to redeveloped units at the same rent and bedroom count. Since its adoption in 2020, the policy has benefited 883 households, reflecting one of the most comprehensive renter protection measures in Canada.
Recent Policy Updates and Expansion
In October 2022, Burnaby City Council approved significant updates to TAP based on tenant and stakeholder feedback. Noteworthy changes include:
- Expanding coverage to secondary market rental buildings with fewer than five units when part of a larger redevelopment project including purpose-built rental housing.
- Including caretaker units within the policy’s protections.
- Clarifying that developers should appoint third-party Tenant Relocation Coordinators where feasible.
- Allowing tenants eligible under TAP to opt for a lump sum payment instead of monthly rent top-ups.
These revisions aim to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all tenants facing displacement due to rezoning and redevelopment.
Transition to a Tenant Protection Bylaw
Burnaby is working on evolving the TAP into a formal Tenant Protection Bylaw coupled with a Development Permit Area to extend tenant protections more broadly across the city. This bylaw will systematically replace the TAP and extend protections beyond current redevelopment scenarios, aiming for a more permanent regulatory framework to support renters.
Challenges Faced by the Policy in Practice
Despite the strong provisions in TAP, the policy encounters practical realities such as uncertainties around developer compliance, delays in redevelopment, and complexities in tenant relocation logistics. These factors contribute to difficulties in fully realizing the intended protections in some cases, signaling a "new reality" for renters and policymakers alike.
Burnaby’s proactive updates and expansion of the renter protection framework reflect a strong municipal commitment to defending tenants’ rights amidst growing redevelopment pressures, but practical challenges call for continued refinement and enforcement.
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