EDITOR:
As the director of residential rental property, I would like to comment on the reference made about accessing rental information on Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission’s website in the Guardian editorial of Jan. 24, 2019, “Familiar Story.”
The fact is, the rental information we provide is easy to find. One click on our homepage will take you to the rental page with links to helpful information about allowable rent increases, security deposits, eviction notices, rental agreements, hearings, and more. If you can’t find what you are looking for, the page also includes a phone number and the staff members in the Rental Office who can provide assistance.
Helping tenants and landlords understand their rights and responsibilities is what we do. With a vacancy rate below one percent, our office receives a high volume of inquiries. In 2018, we responded to 8,369 inquiries, an increase of 25 per cent over the previous year. Already for 2019, we are seeing a significant increase in inquiries over last year.
With fewer apartments available, there is a growing need to help tenants and landlords understand their legal rights and responsibilities. We are responding to this need in a number of ways. Last fall, we launched a media campaign to raise awareness that P.E.I. is a rent-controlled province where tenants and landlords both have rights and responsibilities. To make it easier to file complaints and notices, we eliminated all application fees for both tenants and landlords. We also improved the Notice of Eviction forms to ensure tenants are aware of their right to dispute an eviction notice within 10 days. Last year, we held six information sessions with various groups across the province.
We deal with people who are in conflict and often upset. Our staff is dedicated to helping both parties resolve their differences. We do our best to assist tenants and landlords navigate rental disputes. We are here to help. People looking for information can contact our office by phone at 902-892-3501, by email at [email protected] or visit irac.pe.ca/rental.
Jennifer L. Perry,
Director of Residential Rental Property