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Issue - Limited Protection when Buying a Home

B.C.’s human rights legislation does not protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of their family status or on the basis of their age when purchasing property. 

Lack of Age and Family Status protection means:

• A woman, who owns a unit in an ‘adults only’ complex, could be forced to sell her own home and move out if she has a child. 

• B.C.’s patchwork approach to rights results in irrational situations.  Currently, it is illegal for a property owner to discriminate against a family with children by refusing to rent to them.  However, the same property owner can legally deny the sale of the same property to the family.

• More problems arise for condo owners who rent their suites.  Currently, owners can’t refuse to rent based on someone’s family status or their age.  If they rent to a woman who later has children, the strata may try to enforce their ‘adult only’ designation.  The owner, while accountable to the strata, is prohibited from evicting a renter based on family status.  These situations cause distress, anger and loss of opportunity for those involved.

Did you know:

• Other provinces, such as Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island – have added family status and age protection in the area referred to as purchase of property.

• Adding these grounds would not jeopardize anyone’s ability to reserve units for seniors only.  A term that excludes housing intended for exclusive occupancy by people over 55 could be included in this section.

• The inconsistency of grounds protected in tenancy versus the grounds protected in ownership causes confusion and resistance in embracing equality concepts.  The inconsistency is unjustified and should be amended.

To learn more about this issue:

What to know about age restriction bylaws.