Acting Director of the Rent Assessment Board, Leyton Baker, says proposed amendments to the Rent Restriction Act, have moved to another stage.
The Rent Restriction Act was last amended in 1983, but since then rental arrangements and legal problems have multiplied significantly.
Some of the noted ones include the security deposit, and the ability to recover possession for non payment of rent.
In 2011, the government announced that a review would be done to address several controversial issues.
Baker, who was a guest on Beyond the Headlines, says recommendations are now being put into action
“It is now with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and as soon as it is completed, I’m told that it will be going out to different stakeholders,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rent Assessment Board is seeking to defend itself against criticism that it is unable to properly handle complaints being made by both landlords and tenants.
Baker states that the agency is successful in mediating various types of disputes.
“Anything dealing with harassment , we always try to make contact with the other party. Sometimes the issues are settled on the phone. Also - the tenant and the landlord don’t have to go to court to sue, they can come to the board. We sue for arrears of rent, excess rent, recovery of deposits (but for) recovery of possessions - they have to go to court to deal with that,” he said.
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