At the Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities on April 16th, Council accepted various amendments to advocate for pet-friendly rental housing and improving the Standards of Maintenance Bylaw, while defeating a motion to strengthen Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP) policies.  

Specifically, recommendations encouraged amending the Rental Tenancy Act (RTA) to eliminate no-pet clauses and better protect renters with pets, as well as expanding pet-friendly tenant protections within City policies.  

Additionally, staff were encouraged to include references and remedies for instances of mold, indoor air quality, and water damage in buildings. Staff were further directed to report back on creating a simpler, more accessible plain-language delivery of information to advise Vancouver tenants of their rights, health, safety, and remedies under the Standards of Maintenance By-law on the city’s public-facing website, information portals, and bulletins, including but not limited to City tenant services. 

More information can be found in the pet-friendly rental housing motion, the standards of property maintenance motion, or the defeated motion on TRPP.