CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Bill and Kathy McInnis are hoping to put renters' minds at ease.
The two are spokespeople of the Residential Rental Association of P.E.I., a recently established group whose membership includes about 50 landlords.
Bill and Kathy say they are aware many Island renters are facing heavy financial pressures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic. But they say most landlords are prepared to be lenient with renters facing difficulty. This could include offering deferrals on rent payments.
On Wednesday, as the first of the month loomed in the minds of many renters, the Supreme Court of P.E.I. granted an order to cease all enforcement of eviction orders in the province for the duration of the pandemic. An application for this order had been made by P.E.I. Attorney General Bloyce Thompson.
Several other provinces, including B.C., Ontario and Quebec, have put in place similar measures.
But Bill and Kathy do not believe P.E.I. will see a rash of eviction orders related to non-payment of rent.
"We want people to know that we're going to work with them," Bill McInnis said in a phone interview.
"We want to reduce the fear in this time."
It is unclear how many Islanders have lost jobs since the beginning of March. Across P.E.I., industries from tourism to manufacturing have taken a significant hit due to the public health restrictions related to the pandemic.
Bill and Kathy say they have been landlords since the early 1980s. They currently own several hundred units. So far, however, fewer than five tenants have asked for a delay or a deferment on rent for April. The two have been able to offer accommodations for these tenants.
The couple say most landlords they know have done the same, although their members have still only seen a small number of such requests.
"All our group, no one has mentioned considering an eviction during this COVID-19 pandemic," Bill said, referring to the Residential Rental Association of P.E.I.
The couple estimated around 80 per cent of the members of the association are family-owned operations. Twenty-two members of the association have issued rent deferral forms to tenants on a case-by-case basis.
The two say tenants facing financial challenges should consider talking to their landlords.
"If you can pay a third, pay a third, and we'll defer it," Kathy said, by way of illustration.
Kathy and Bill believe federal and provincial programs, such as the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit, will help alleviate some of the financial pressures for tenants. But the CERB program has yet to be rolled out; A provincial rental subsidy program for individuals who have experienced a drop in income due to the pandemic will also not be available until May.
But Kathy and Bill did not fully agree that all evictions should be stopped on P.E.I. They said there should be some option, even during the pandemic, for evictions of tenants who may pose a danger to others.
Wednesday’s Supreme Court order was granted on the grounds that the eviction of tenants during a pandemic could pose a public health risk, both for the general public and for sheriff services staff, who are often tasked with carrying out the orders.
In his decision, Justice Wayne Cheverie read from a submission to the court written by Chief Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison, who expressed concern that eviction proceedings at this time could disrupt a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for some Islanders who have been out of province.
The order applies to sheriff services staff and landlords and representatives of landlords but could still allow for eviction orders “in exceptional cases of urgency or emergency".
Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling:
- Enforcement of eviction orders suspended.
- Supension remains in force while court only hearing emergency matters.
- IRAC can still hear tenancy matters, including some related to evictions, in cases of urgency or emergency.
- Suspension is for reasons of public health.