Surrey renters face a 40 per cent rate hike or possible sale of their units

In the 10 years that Israq Habeeb has lived at Surrey’s Winsome Place apartment building, rent increases have typically occurred in small increments.

“About $25, not that much,” Habeeb says.

Habeeb and about 30 others in the 72-unit building pay rents of about $1,085 a month for a two-bedroom apartment that are below the market average.

But in late April, the landlord sent letters asking tenants to agree to a more than 40 per cent increase in rent or risk losing their unit, which would be listed for sale on July 1. They were given a deadline of May 10 to reply.

The landlord’s letter cited property taxes, waste disposal, trade costs and utilities increasing above what is covered by the provincial government’s cap on rent hikes.