After the word-of-mouth horror stories of renting in Whistler
this season, council is kicking off an awareness campaign about the rights of
landlords and tenants.
Information packages filled with need-to-know numbers and
resources on landlord/tenant issues are now available. The packages are
designed to educate residents and newcomers about their rights and obligations
under the Residential Tenancy Act.
It will be followed by a media campaign with ads running in the
local papers for the next three weeks to build awareness of some of the issues
around renting in Whistler.
“Thanks very much for doing that,” Councillor Ralph Forsyth
said to staff at Monday’s council meeting. “I think it will go a long way.”
Forsyth triggered awareness on the issue after the Welcome Week
dinner in early November where he heard about new workers being charged
exorbitant rents and getting crammed into bedrooms.
He vowed to expose landlords gouging seasonal workers and run
them out of town.
On Monday Mayor Ken Melamed said it only takes a few rotten
eggs to spoil the bunch and give the resort a bad name. There are many good,
compassionate landlords too, he added.
The landlord/tenant information packages are available at the Whistler Housing Authority, the Chamber of Commerce Employment Centre, the Whistler Public Library and municipal hall.