Whereas landlords may open rooming houses and accommodate low income individuals; And whereas landlords may take advantage of the vulnerable individuals they house: Therefore be it resolved that the Ministry of Health e.g. Interior Health and Ministry of Social Development Poverty Reduction Province work with local governments to create policy and an inspection process to ensure the integrity of the rooming houses.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Ministry is committed to preserving safe and secure low-income housing for vulnerable British Columbians and recognizes the importance of maintaining legal health and safety standards in these dwellings. The Ministry supports the efforts of municipal governments in BC to establish and enforce standards of maintenance by-laws in their respective jurisdictions. Under the Community Charter, municipalities may establish and enforce the inspections of existing rental housing units and establish fines where appropriate. The Provincial Residential Tenancy Act and the BC Building Code complement this work by establishing legal obligations of landlords and tenants to maintain rental properties and establishing health and safety standards for newly constructed buildings. The Ministry is supportive of working with the Ministries of Health and Social Development and Poverty Reduction to work in partnership with local governments to complement their existing work with respect to maintaining the integrity of rooming houses in the province.