New Westminster Council Weighs Stronger Tenant Protections Amid Rising Rents

On March 24, 2025, Krisztina Fulop of the Tenants Rights Association addressed the New Westminster City Council, advocating for enhanced tenant protections in support of a proposal by Councillor Nadine Nakagawa. The proposal aims to strengthen the city's Tenant Relocation Policy to better safeguard renters facing displacement due to redevelopment.​

Deni Loubert – Local Journalism Initiative

During the session, Fulop highlighted the increasing vulnerability of tenants amid rising housing costs and redevelopment pressures. She emphasized the need for policies that ensure fair compensation and assistance for displaced tenants, drawing attention to models implemented in neighboring municipalities.​

Councillor Nakagawa underscored the urgency of the matter, stating, "I think it's really important to see this as homelessness prevention. If we displace a lot of tenants ... this will have a really negative impact on rates of homelessness in our community, because rent has gone up a lot over the past number of years." ​

The council engaged in an extensive discussion on tenant rights, acknowledging that renters comprise nearly half of New Westminster's population. Recent data reveals that, as of May 2023, the average asking rent for purpose-built and condo rental apartments in New Westminster was $2,426 per month, marking a 22.6% increase over the previous year. ​

Council members recognized the critical need to update the city's Tenant Relocation Policy, originally developed in 2015, to reflect current housing market realities and provide more robust support for tenants. The proposed enhancements aim to prevent displacement and mitigate the risk of homelessness among residents.​

The council's deliberations signal a commitment to addressing the challenges faced by renters in New Westminster, with plans to develop policies that balance development interests with the rights and stability of the tenant community.