The previous rent freeze was set to end on December first but on November 9th the government announced that the rent freeze would be extended and increases set to happen on or after December 1st are cancelled until July 10, 2021.
According to the Residential Tenancy Branch: “The rent increase freeze has been extended until July 10, 2021.
If you received a notice that your rent was set to increase on December 1, 2020, don’t pay the increased amount. Continue to pay your current pre-increase rent amount until July 10, 2021.
If your landlord does collect the increased amount between December 1, 2020 to July 10, 2021, you can deduct the additional amount from future rent payments.”
Additionally, the maximum rent increase amount in 2021 cannot exceed 1.4%. Tenants must be given 3 months notice prior to a rent increase.
See COVID-19 and tenancies and the Ministry for Municipal Affairs and Housing announcement for more information.