A new housing strategy calls for the Town of Banff and Alberta Health Services to investigate setting up a quasi-judicial tenant resolution board for the Bow Valley.
Alison Gerrits, manager of the Town of Banff’s Family and Community Support Service (FCSS), said some communities in Alberta have accessible, user-friendly landlord-tenant dispute resolution mechanisms.
“It would help with those who have fear of retribution. They are afraid to lodge a formal complaint for fear they would be evicted or lose their housing opportunity,” said Gerrits, who was a member of the Banff Community Housing Strategy Committee.
“Right now, individuals who are struggling have to go through a 1-800 hotline and the intention of this is to provide a local go-between, a group of people, to assist individuals to better their existing housing situation; for example, a public health issue.”
Service Alberta oversees and enforces Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act. Alberta’s Consumer Contact Centre (1-877-427-4088) provides information on dozens of topics, including landlord/tenant disputes.
There is also a Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS), which offers landlords and tenants an alternative means of resolving serious disputes outside of court. The RTDRS is designed to be faster, more informal and less expensive than the courts.
A tenant or a landlord who has concerns related to termination of a tenancy, unpaid rent/utilities, security deposit, damages, repairs or other common disagreements may use the service.
Banff’s housing committee is suggesting a quasi-judicial board for the Bow Valley.
“It does not have to be something that looks like the DAB (Development Appeal Board),” said Leslie Taylor, chair of the Community Housing Strategy Committee. “It would be less formal, but a shared responsibility between communities.”
A housing study undertaken in 2012 concluded a shortage of affordable rental housing was Banff’s most pressing need.
Banff’s rental vacancy rate was zero in 2013. It was 1.2 per cent in 2011 and 2012 compared to the provincial average of eight per cent in 2011 and 4.5 per cent in 2012 – a healthy vacancy rate is considered between three and five per cent.
