Government of Yukon

03/28/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/28/2024 10:32

Government of Yukon receives feedback to help guide next steps on the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Published 28/03/2024

More than 1,500 Yukoners shared their suggestions for improvements to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act as part of the Government of Yukon's review of this important piece of legislation.

Following an advertising and public information campaign by the Government of Yukon, 1,420 Yukoners responded to an online and paper survey developed in partnership with the Yukon Bureau of Statistics. From February 1 to 29, respondents shared their input on key issues impacting landlords and tenants, as well as revisions to Act.

An additional 120 Yukoners participated in public engagement events, including nine facilitated in-person sessions held in Whitehorse, Haines Junction, Dawson City and Watson Lake along with two online public information sessions. Approximately 100 additional people participated in 12 stakeholder meetings held with First Nations and municipal governments, not-for-profit organizations and other stakeholders. Meetings were also held with individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity to ensure their feedback will be included in future work.

The following steps include analyzing the feedback obtained from the surveys, meetings, and sessions, with the objective of publishing a "What We Heard" report this summer.

The introduction of a revised Residential Landlord and Tenant Act is planned for 2025.

Thank you to all those who contributed their ideas and lived experiences. Every piece of feedback has been acknowledged and will be thoroughly evaluated for its potential to strengthen this significant legislation. Together with the policy initiatives of the Department of Community Services, this feedback will serve as the cornerstone for crafting legislation that treats all Yukoners fairly and supports a sustainable and equitable rental market.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

Quick facts

  • During the public engagement period, 12 separate meetings were held with First Nations Governments, municipal governments, the business community, fire departments and protective services and social non-profit organizations to discuss the issues they considered most important to address. The meetings were held with the following:

    • City of Whitehorse
    • Dawson City business community
    • Dawson City Chief Administrative Officer
    • Haines Junction Chief Administrative Officer
    • Housing staff of Champagne and Aishihik First Nation
    • Housing staff of Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in
    • Safe at Home Warming Centre
    • Watson Lake Chief Administrative Officer
    • Whitehorse Fire Department and Protective Services
    • Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition Lived Experience Forum
    • Yukon Residential Landlord Association, and
    • Social sector non-government organizations:
      • Safe at Home
      • Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition
      • Blood Ties Four Directions
      • Betty's Haven
      • Yukon Aboriginal Women's Circle
      • Council of Yukon First Nations
      • Women's Coalition

  • Stakeholder engagement in 2023 included eleven participants in the Solutions Lab who met 17 times over two months. They came from diverse backgrounds, and while they represented their own individual perspectives, they brought various insights from their experience at the following organizations:

    • The Safe at Home Society
    • Yukon Council on Aging
    • Da Daghay Development Corporation
    • Yukon Tenant Association
    • Yukon Residential Landlord Association
    • Association of Yukon Communities
    • Gray Management Services
    • Yukon Real Estate Association
    • Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce Housing Committee
    • Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition

  • The stakeholders identified a wide range of issues to put to the public. Some of the issues included the following:

    • Flexibility of rent increases
    • How to end tenancies
    • Understanding the market
    • Landlord and tenant education
    • Lack of clarity of terms, and
    • The role of the Residential Tenancies Office
    • Several other areas were identified through interactions with the public, such as the definition of roommates and clarity around mobile home site tenancies and short-term rentals.
    • Engageyukon.ca Residential Landlord and Tenant Act review page received 2,386 views with 863 redirected from social networks.
Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
[email protected]

Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
[email protected]

News release #:
24-150