COVID-19 Updates

The ban on issuing evictions for non-payment of rent is over as of August 18, 2020. This means that tenants must pay rent in full on the day it is due or they can be evicted. A landlord may issue a Notice to End Tenancy for unpaid rent or utilities if the tenant failed to pay rent that was due before March 18, 2020 OR the tenant fails to pay full rent due after August 17, 2020 (for most renters that would be September 1, 2020). To assist in repayment of any outstanding rent fees, the province has developed a Rent Repayment Plan.

A landlord must not issue a Notice to End Tenancy for unpaid rent or utilities that came due during the specified period of March 18, 2020 to August 17, 2020 unless the landlord has given the tenant a repayment plan for the unpaid amount and the tenant has defaulted on the repayment plan. A landlord cannot charge a late fee for any unpaid rent during the specified period of March 18, 2020 to August 17, 2020.

Rent increases do not come into effect until December 1, 2020.

For more information, see the Residential Tenancies COVID-19 updates.

BC Education Minister Rob Fleming announced today a gradual restart of classes in September.  Students are expected to be back in the classroom by Sept. 10. Beginning on Sept. 8, school staff will meet with their schools' joint health and safety committees to get instructions on plans to prevent transmission of COVID-19. They'll also have time to adjust to the new routine and make sure lesson plans work in the "new normal," according to a government press release.

Children will return to school for orientation by Sept. 10, when they'll learn their class assignments and find out who is in their "learning group" — a cluster of 60-120 students that is meant to allow for social interaction, while limiting the potential for widespread transmission.

To read more about the K-12 Plan to help students return safely back to school, see the K-12 Education Restart Plan. Keep checking regularly for updates.

The Canadian government has released details regarding the extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). The program will cover up to 75% of an employee’s salary for the weeks between March 15 and November 21, 2020. Eligible employers who had any drop in revenue can now qualify for the wage subsidy, starting with the claim periods that began July 5. See HERE to learn about the changes.

On August 4, 2020, the Lieutenant Governor made the COVID-19 (Limitation Periods in Court Proceedings) Regulation, B.C. Reg. 199/2020 (“Regulation”) and amended the Act. The Regulation and the Act provide that the suspension of mandatory limitation periods and any other mandatory time periods in British Columbia enactments or laws for commencing a civil or family action, proceeding, claim or appeal in the Supreme Court of British Columbia will end 90 days after the date the state of emergency expires or is cancelled.

BC Transit and Translink will be proceeding with mandatory use of face coverings while on-board all transit vehicles in communities across the Province as of Monday August 24. While face coverings will be mandatory, the policy will be implemented with a focus on awareness and education. For more information, including those exempt from this mandate, see BC Transit Coronavirus COVID-19 Information and Translink’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Company asks customers to bring their own face coverings when they shop, starting August 12, 2020, at all stores nationwide. 

The Court of Appeal has extended the suspension of service and filing deadlines from August 5, 2020 to August 19, 2020.

See the Notice to the Public for more information.

On July 27, 2020, Dr. Bonnie Henry has issued a new order regarding mass gatherings. See the order regarding Gatherings and Events for exact wording but it limits the number of people who can attend an event at a vacation accommodation to 5 people plus the staying at the accommodation. 

Up to 50 people can attend an event at a place that is not a vacation accommodation as long as certain conditions are met such as there being an organizer and the number of people attending the event is closely monitored.

If your income has changed since January for reasons related to COVID-19, you can apply to  a simplified process to suspend or change child support and spousal support orders. See the practice directive from the Provincial Court HERE and see the Government’s guide on how to use the new process HERE.

The Province plans to lift the ban on issuing evictions for non-payment of rent ahead of September 1, 2020. Landlords will be able to issue a Notice to End Tenancy for unpaid rent or utilities if the tenant fails to pay full rent by September 1, 2020. A landlord cannot charge a late fee for any unpaid rent during the emergency period.

A landlord whose tenant has unpaid rent or utilities during the emergency period would be required to enter into a repayment plan for those arrears. A landlord would not be able to issue a Notice to End Tenancy for unpaid rent or utilities during this period unless the tenant has defaulted on their repayment plan. A Notice of Rent Increase may be issued, but it will not come into effect until December 1, 2020.

To learn more, see the BC Government’s Planned Residential Tenancy Changes.