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Curb condo conversion: NDP

Curb condo conversion: NDP The Yukon government should protect renters from evictions by regulating condo conversions, NDP Housing Critic Kate White said in a press release yesterday.

The Yukon government should protect renters from evictions by regulating condo conversions, NDP Housing Critic Kate White said in a press release yesterday.

“The current trend of converting existing rental housing into condominiums must stop. For many renters who cannot afford to purchase their homes or pay dramatically increased rents, condo conversions will result in evictions,” White said.

The Yukon is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada where conversions are almost totally unregulated.

As the law stands, rent cannot increase for the first year after a conversion, and after that a written notice of a rent increase must be provided to the tenant, but beyond that, “the sky’s the limit,” White said.

“How many more tenants will face evictions for condo conversions and skyrocketing rents before the government finally acts?”

The government has asked the public for feedback on the current Landlord and Tenant Act. A survey is available on the Department of Community Services website and in public libraries.

White suggested that citizens voice their concerns about condo conversions in the “Other Issues” section of the survey.

The government will accept input until July 9, 2012.