How to apply for BC's pandemic rental subsidy

Applications are now being accepted for the provincial government’s pandemic rental subsidy. 

The program was rolled out as a part of B.C.’s response to hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 related job losses hammering the economy. 

With a moratorium on evictions in place for the duration of the provincial state of emergency, the rental supplement for April, May and June will be paid directly to the landlords of eligible households. 

Eligible households with no dependents will be provided $300 per month while those with dependents will get $500 per month.

To be eligible, households must meet the following criteria. 

1. Have a 2019 household income of less than:

• $74,150 for singles and couples without dependents
• $113,040 for households with dependents

2. As a result of COVID-19:

• Be receiving or eligible for Employment Insurance; or
• Be receiving or eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit offered by the federal government; or
• Have experienced, and be able to provide evidence of, a drop of 25% or more in monthly household employment income

3. Be paying more than 30% of current household income towards rent

Tenants are not eligible if their rent is subsidized by any other government program.

The application process is broken into two steps; to be started by the tenant and finished by the landlord. It is expected that the first payments will be provided before the end of April.

More details on application requirements and a link to apply can be found here.