Rent Payments in Canada During COVID-19 for the Immunocompromised: What you Need to Know

Written by: CDHF

Updated: December 1st, 2022

Unfortunately those most at risk of developing severe complications if exposed to COVID-19 are also most at risk of developing financial difficulties during this time. If you’re immunocompromised and had to take leave from a job that is essential or has duties that cannot be performed at home, this article is for you.

We are not financial experts; however, we did the best we could to collect pertinent information on the subject to help our community navigate life during this difficult time. Click through the following options to find some solutions. If what you’re looking for isn’t on this list, please let us know, and we will do our best to point you in the right direction.

I’m a Canadian who is immunocompromised and:

I’m a Canadian who is immunocompromised, and I am worried about paying my rent during the COVID-19 crisis:

This month, many Canadians faced paying their rent for the first time under severe financial strain . However, with no end to life in isolation and physical distancing measures, most Canadian provinces have implemented an eviction freeze, as allowing evictions would have negative health impacts during this time.

Rent controls are a provincial measure, and each province has put together their plans to confront this issue. Click your province to go directly to the information that pertains to you. We have put together a list of each provinces’ current stance on rent payments during the COVID-19 crisis. These measures were taken directly from each province’s official site, which we have linked too respectively.

Alberta

New protections are in place for residential and mobile homes site tenants facing financial hardship due to COVID-19:

Tenants cannot be evicted for non-payment of rent and/or utilities before May 1, 2020.
Rent on residential properties or mobile home sites will not increase while Alberta’s State of Public Health Emergency remains in effect.
Late fees cannot be applied to late rent payments until June 30 and cannot be collected retroactively for this time.
Landlords and tenants need to work together to develop payment plans while COVID-19 is being managed.
Landlords can still file applications and receive orders for possession if the reason for the eviction is unrelated to rent and/or utility payments, or if a tenant refused to negotiate or comply with a payment plan.

Additional Resources for Alberta:

British Columbia:

New protections are in place for residential and mobile homes site tenants facing financial hardship due to COVID-19:

Tenants are still expected to pay rent in full and on-time if possible, however,

The state of emergency temporarily suspends a landlord’s ability to end a tenancy if a tenant does not pay the rent in full and on time
A tenant who has not paid rent could face eviction once the state of emergency is over

For those who are having difficulty covering rent, there is an option to apply for a temporary rent supplement of $500. This assistance is only available to low income and moderate-income households. You can find the application for this supplement here: BC Housing website

Additional Resources for residents of British Columbia:

Tenants facing difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 crisis should also consider all assistance that is available to them, including:

Manitoba

The Manitoba government is temporarily postponing eviction hearings, and all rent increases are suspended from April 1- May 31.

However, tenants in Manitoba are still expected to pay their rent on time and in full. If rent looks like it will be out of reach due to lack of income, the tenant may still be subject to late fees if previously stated in the lease agreement.

For tenants who are struggling, the Manitoba government encourages tenants to reach out to landlords immediately to work out a payment plan.

Additional Resources for Manitoba:

New Brunswick

A landlord’s ability to evict a tenant due to non-payment of rent is suspended until May 31 2020.

Additional Resources for New Brunswick:

Newfoundland and Labrador

If you have lost income due to the impacts of COVID-19, the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador have ensured tenants cannot be evicted.

Additional Resources for Newfoundland and Labrador

Nova Scotia

Measures announced to help vulnerable Nova Scotians include:

Investing $2.2 million so that every individual and family member on income assistance will receive an additional $50, starting Friday, March 20, to help pay for food, cleaning supplies and personal care items. People do not need to apply.
No tenant can be evicted because their income has been impacted by COVID-19, effective immediately for the next three months.

Additional Resources for Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Health Authority
IWK Health Centre
The Public Health Agency of Canada maintains a list of affected areas
Government of Canada
Government of Canada toll-free information line 1-833-784-4397
Nova Scotia Public Health offices

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation’s (NWTHC) service levels for its rental housing will be focused only on repairs related to the health and safety of the unit.
Tenants of these programs are permitted to delay their payments to Local Housing Organization (LHO) offices until a later date if they wish.
Evictions from rental housing will not be carried out unless there is a significant matter, including risk to other tenants or the NWTHC’s building.
Communications for clients are continuing to be issued, including posters, website postings, and through community advertising. Communications include information on where residents and tenants can find out how to contact the NWTHC.

Additional Resources for Northwest Territories:

Nunavut

There has been no official announcement for residents of Nunavut. For questions, contact the public health office. Below is the contact information listed on their site:

Headquarters

Department of Health
Government of Nunavut
Box 1000, Station 1000
Iqaluit, NU
X0A 0H0

Phone: (867) 975-5700
Fax: (867) 975-5705

Ontario

In a news release, the Ministry of the Attorney General has granted an order suspending the enforcement of residential evictions until ordered otherwise by the court.
Tribunals Ontario will not issue any new eviction orders until further notice. Sheriff’s offices have been asked to postpone any scheduled enforcement of eviction orders currently set for this week.

Additional resources for Ontario:

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
Ontarians can file family, civil or small claims online
Superior Court of Justice
Ontario Court of Justice
Tribunals Ontario’s new policy for hearings
Legal Aid Ontario for information updates
For more information about online tools and services for legal professionals, visit the Law Society of Ontario and LAWPRO.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island has announced a moratorium on evictions.
You can apply for the Temporary Rental Assistance Benefit, linked below
On March 30, 2020, the Commission advised the public that the Rental Office will not hold hearings for non-payment of rent. It will only hold hearings for urgent matters, such as serious threats to the health and safety of tenants and landlords.
On April 1, 2020, the Supreme Court of PEI held a hearing and a decision was made to support this application to suspend enforcement of eviction orders until the courts can resume regular operations.

Additional Resources for Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Les effets de toute décision de la Régie du logement ou de tout jugement d’un tribunal qui autorise la reprise d’un logement ou l’éviction du locataire d’un logement sont suspendus, de même que les effets de toute décision ou de tout jugement qui ordonne l’expulsion du locataire ou de l’occupant d’un logement, sauf si le logement a été reloué par le locateur avant le 17 mars 2020 et que cette suspension empêcherait le nouveau locataire de prendre possession des lieux.
Les effets de toute décision de la Régie du logement ou de tout jugement d’un tribunal qui autorise la reprise d’un logement ou l’éviction du locataire d’un logement sont suspendus, de même que les effets de toute décision ou de tout jugement qui ordonne l’expulsion du locataire ou de l’occupant d’un logement, sauf si le logement a été reloué par le locateur avant le 17 mars 2020 et que cette suspension empêcherait le nouveau locataire de prendre possession des lieux.

Ressources supplémentaires pour le Québec

Joindre la Régie du logement
Par téléphone
Montréal, Laval et Longueuil
514 873-2245

Autres régions
1 800 683-2245
Par télécopieur

Montréal, Laval et Longueuil
514 864-8077
Autres régions
1 877 907-8077

Par courrier
Village olympique
5199, rue Sherbrooke Est
Bureau 2360
Montréal (Québec) H1T 3X1

Saskatchewan

The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) will not be accepting applications for eviction related to missed or late rent, or for other non-urgent claims.
Previous eviction orders for non-urgent matters (i.e., – not related to health and safety concerns) will not be enforced, and previously scheduled hearings for non-urgent cases have been cancelled as of today.
The ORT will only be conducting eviction hearings for urgent situations where there is a potential risk to health or safety resulting from violence or damage to property.
Hearings may also take place for cases where a tenant has been locked out by their landlord or where a landlord has been accused of not providing essential services such as power and water.

Additional Resources for Saskatchewan

Yukon

The Government of Yukon passed regulations under the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
These regulations prevent evictions over the next 90 days for residential tenants who are self-isolating or unable to pay their rent on time due to COVID-19.
The regulations will also allow tenants to pay rent late if they cannot pay it when it is due. This exception will help support individuals who have been laid off, have a reduced income or due to a health protection measure.
Landlords cannot evict if the tenant or a member of their household is subject to a health protection measure.