1500 renters demand rent control
Posted by Tyler Kinch on 15th January 2008
Calgary, January 14th 2008—A Facebook group calling for the implementation of rent controls in
Alberta has reached 1500 members.
The group is called “Rent Controls for Albertans” and has reached the milestone in less than a month.
“These are 1500 ordinary Albertans that are fed up with the rental market in Alberta,” states Tyler
Kinch, founder of the Facebook group.
The group was started after the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation released a report that
found Calgary to be the most expensive major city for a renter, in Canada.
The report also found that average rents in the province of Alberta increased 17.2% last year and
13.3% the year previous.
“Alberta renters are being squeezed. It’s time that their right to affordable housing be protected, and
we are urging the Stelmach government to implement rent controls,” declared Kinch, “People should
not have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries, that’s not right and it’s a shame that so
many Albertans have to make that choice.”
The group is asking that all rent increases be limited annually by the Canadian Price Index, plus two
percent. The group is also asking for a moratorium on condo conversions.
The group has a goal of reaching 10,000 members by mid February.
Posted in Affordable Housing, Rent Controls | 2 Comments »