Winnipeg Free Press
August 31, 2001
THE largest rent increase in almost a decade was announced yesterday by
Manitoba Consumer Minister Scott Smith.
Landlords will be allowed to increase rents in Manitoba by two per cent next
year,
in recognition of high natural gas heating costs last winter.
The former Tory government allowed rents to inch up by only one per cent a
year since 1993; the NDP government approved a 1.5 per cent increase last
year.
Landlords can apply for larger increases if their extra expenses exceed the
guidelines. About 15 per cent of landlords went that route this year after
natural
gas prices went through the roof. Traditionally, about five per cent apply to
exceed the guidelines.
Smith is under pressure from developers to do away with rent controls that
they
say stall new apartment construction.
The vacancy rate for two-bedroom apartments last year in Winnipeg was 1.2 per
cent, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
But Smith said yesterday that no major changes are in the works beyond the
NDP's move this year to exempt new rental housing from rent controls for 15
years.
"It was a major step, but there's nothing that we're considering."