It’s good news if you’re a renter, but it’s not making landlords particularly happy.
The rent increase guideline for 2011 is at it’s lowest rate in 35 years.
The government has established a 0.7 per cent increase, which is down significantly from the average of a two per cent increase over the past few years.
The increases are based on inflation.
Susan Earle, Manager of Housing Services with the Bruce County Housing Corporation, says it’s a benefit for tenants, especially those with low incomes.
She says rents in the region have been increasing quite a bit over the past few years, leaving it difficult for many to pay for rent, especially if they have to pay utilities on top of that.
By keeping rent increases down, she says it could help more people afford housing on their own.
However, Earle doesn’t believe it will completely alleviate the need for affordable housing.
Bruce County has identified that 448 units will be needed over the next decade.
But not everybody is happy with the low rent increase.
Some landlords have said they won’t be asking for the increase, because the tiny amount will cause too much tension with tenants.
But most in rural areas say they need it to keep up with the rising cost of maintenance, and that it’s in fact not enough.
Landlords can apply the increase to your rent if you’ve been living there for a year, or it’s been a year since your last rent increase.
