Vancouver Considers Rental Registration Program

The city recently formed the Vancouver Rental Habitability Group, a mix of stakeholders including rental housing associations, affordable and market rate housing providers, tenant advocates, eviction and tenant protection attorneys as well as residents with lived experience. Our industry is represented on the group by Ryan Makinster WMFHA Director of Government Affairs, representatives of the Rental Housing Association of Washington (RHA), private housing providers and developers.

After three meetings which focused on a rental registration program, designed to address unhabitable or poorly maintained property in Vancouver, the discussion has veered away from the mandate as originally described to participants to include rental relocation assistance and other “tenant protections.” Industry stakeholders have been vocal in their opposition to the change in direction and will continue this conversation over the next few meetings. Staff are expected to provide an outline of proposed changes for group review by the end of September with the goal of presenting it to the full city council by then end of the year.  If you would like to learn more about this process or provide feedback please contact Ryan Makinster. We plan on sharing the working proposal once it is made available and public.