The provincial government will not be holding eviction hearings for the foreseeable future, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of March 26, the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) will not be accepting applications for eviction due to missed or late rent, or for other non-urgent claims.
As well, previous eviction orders for non-urgent matters will not be enforced. Previously scheduled hearings for non-urgent matters have been cancelled.
Eviction hearings will be reserved for urgent situations where there is a potential risk to health or safety resulting from violence or damage to a property. Hearings can also take place when a tenant has been locked out by their landlord or when a landlord has been accused of not providing essential services.
“Under the circumstances, we want to ensure that tenants facing hardship as a result of COVID-19 can remain in their homes and follow all orders and recommendations from the Chief Medical Officer,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said in a press release.
“An essential part of flattening the curve is staying home and self-isolating. We want to provide piece of mind that those taking the necessary precautions as a result of this unprecedented situation will still have a roof over their head.”
Tenants will still be expected to pay their rent in full once the state of emergency is over.
