Premier Jason Kenney has announced a series of measures designed to help struggling tenants just days before most residential rent is due on April 1.
The measures are intended to provide increased security for Albertans who have lost their jobs or have seen their hours reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new legislation guarantees that tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent and/or utilities before May 1, freezes rents while Alberta remains in a state of public health emergency, gets rid of late fees for rent payments for the next three months and directs landlords to negotiate payment plans with tenants who struggle to pay rent.
The announcement came after a week in which British Columbia announced similar wide-reaching rules to help protect renters. Kenney had previously urged tenants and landlords to find solutions to issues where tenants were unable to pay.
Landlords will still be able to file applications and receive orders of possession if the reason for eviction is not related to rent or utility payments.
More to come …
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