ACORN Says Renters Still At Risk
MONCTON–A survey of more than 160 members of New Brunswick’s tenant community found that many renters are feeling insecure in their living situations.
Peter Jongeneelen, a spokesperson for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), says this poll found tenants are feeling intimidated by landlords because there is no rent control.
“We have put together a report that uncovered the real issues that are facing New Brunswick tenants. What we found is basically that a lot of tenants are living in a very precarious situation. We had 169 completed surveys. We found in the survey that 81.4 percent of people that were tenants in New Brunswick have moved at least once in the past five years. Twenty percent of the survey respondents say they moved at least three to four times in the past five years,” he said.
“Tenants feel intimidated and that rent control is not there. It is a problem that needs to be addressed. It is a problem that is leading to a homeless crisis, and it is leading people in some very precarious situations. There are no tenants’ rights. ACORN would like to see a rewrite of the residential tenancies act. The legislation that the government introduced falls short of any kind of tenant protection.”
Jongeneelen says many have no choice but to leave, because of skyrocketing rent prices, and bad living conditions.
Forty-three percent of those polled said they fear being evicted if they ask their landlord to do repairs. Twenty percent claim they have been harassed by their landlord.
Jongeneelen says the pandemic has made this issue worse.
“There are three basic things people need: food, shelter, and clothing. If the shelter isn’t there, that is leading to homelessness. That leads to mental health issues, the demand on food kitchens is getting worse.”
A renter we spoke to fears eviction in the winter months, with no place to go.
Chris, who asked to only be identified by her first name, lives in a Moncton apartment building.
She says she is supporting her fiancé, who is disabled, and her two children.
“We had a recent rent increase due to a change in landlord and there is also some pest issues in my building, and issues getting some minor renovations done,” Chris says.
Chris says her rent increased almost $300 and she now has to pay her hydro on top of it.
She’d like to see caps on rent control, and eviction protection.
“We don’t want to be kicked out in the middle of winter and not know where to go. It’s still a hard time to get anything that can be affordable.”
Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.