Renters will be better protected in the City of Delta.
Council at its Committee of the Whole meeting last week (May 2) heard a presentation from planning staff on implementing the next phase of the Delta Housing Action Plan, measures aimed at helping reduce impacts faced by existing tenants of rental buildings undergoing redevelopment.
Still in draft form, a Tenant Relocation Policy and a Rental Stock Protection Policy are to work in tandem.
The relocation policy is meant is to ensure tenants are compensated, while the stock policy will be designed to ensure there is no net loss of purpose-built rental units due to redevelopment.
The proposed relocation policy is to provide clear information for tenants and developers about timelines and financial compensation, so all parties are aware of the process and expectations.
The planning department notes that the draft policy was developed from a thorough review of similar policies in other jurisdictions, consultation with Delta’s Urban Development Institute and consideration of Delta’s unique needs and situation.
Some of the proposed elements include a lump sum to help cover moving expenses, other financial compensation with a formula to be confirmed prior to coming to council for consideration, and the right of first refusal to return to a rental unit, once the new development is completed, at a 20 per cent discount below average market rental rates.
The proposed policy would also provide renters a five per cent discount on the sale price for a unit in new developments that include a market strata component, should the tenant be in a position to purchase rather than rent a unit in the new development.
As far as the rental stock policy, details also need to be worked out, but it would only apply to purpose-built rental buildings of five or more units and would be included in a future update to the Official Community Plan.
The city’s housing needs assessment found that the majority of Delta’s purpose-built units were constructed prior to 1980 and, while some new developments are starting to become available, not much has been added over subsequent decades.
In 2021, Delta’s vacancy rate for purpose-built units was just 1.3 per cent, so protections need to be in place as the city is starting to see “strong interest” in redeveloping those buildings, the planning department warned.
About 77 per cent of the Delta’s over 7,500 rental units are in in the secondary market, such as secondary suites or privately rented dwellings, while the remainder are in purpose-built rental buildings.
