Rent Rollback

COPE will establish an elected Vancouver Rent Control Board, with tenant representation and independence from the real estate industry that will:

  • Work toward a “rent rollback” to 2017 levels (cancelling any rent increase notices since then) and a four-year rent freeze;
  • Issue mill rate rebates for landlords that abide by “rent rollback and freeze” policy, and renewable energy retrofits. 

End landlords' arbitrary prohibition of pets in rental buildings

COPE will Build a public campaign to pressure the province to change the Residential Tenancy Act to meet the requests of Pets OK BC, while also addressing the needs of people with severe allergies to pets.

Other eviction prevention policies

COPE will lobby the provincial government to ensure that all eviction notices must first be submitted to, and approved by, the RTB.

COPE will ensure public funding for a universal Right to Counsel for tenants experiencing eviction.

COPE will require, as a condition of issuing building permits, that landlords maintain rents for the building’s tenants at existing levels after work is completed by ensuring that:

  • As a condition of issuing a building permit or development permit involving rental units, landlords prove they have found suitable interim accommodation (at the same rent or with rent bridging funds) for all tenants who will be displaced due to renovations; and,
  • There is a signed contract that gives tenants the right to move back into their unit, or a new replacement unit of comparable size, at the same rents they were previously paying, once renovations are complete.

COPE will enact a moratorium on the loss of existing low-income housing units across the city by strengthening and expanding the City’s Rate of Change / Tenant Relocation and Protection bylaws.

Enforce Standards of Maintenance

COPE will enforce and strengthen municipal housing maintenance standards by implementing or strengthening the following, but not limited to, policies:

  • Enforce the section of the Standards of Maintenance bylaw that allows the city to do necessary work and bill the owner; and
  • Implementing proactive maintenance inspections and use all enforcement methods up to and including seizing properties that don't pay their fines or do legally required maintenance, where it is financially viable to do so. 

COPE policies were approved by COPE members in August 2022. COPE is a democratic, grassroots, member-led party. Become a COPE member today.