CONTROVERSIAL CITY BYLAW COULD BE IN EFFECT SOON

The controversial bylaw that will hold landlords financially accountable
for their pot growing tenants could be approved in Langley City as early
as next week.

The maintenance of residential rental premises bylaw, which has already
received first, second and third reading in the city, will go for final
approval at the July 9 city council meeting, said Langley City Mayor
Marlene Grinnell.

But there is still time for the public to voice their concerns, Grinnell
said.

"People can write to us. We will respond back and if we think it's
appropriate to incorporate those concerns into the bylaw, we could do
that," Grinnell said at the June 18 council meeting.

On June 12 the city held an education forum about this bylaw at Langley
Senior Secondary.

The forum, that included a panel of police, fire, health and bylaw
officials and one property manager, was organized by the city to educate
property owners and tenants about how the bylaw is going to affect them.

"The meeting went well. I counted 26 people who came with various
questions and concerns. Those people were given the opportunity to
address their concerns with the individual panelists," Grinnell said.

"Several people came up to me afterwards and said they supported the
bylaw after having a better understanding of it. I think they felt the
bylaw was too invasive, but once they understood it, they were in
support of it. "What people don't realize is we aren't doing anything
that isn't already in the Residency Tenancy Act."

The bylaw, if approved, will only come into effect when the city
building inspector is notified by the RCMP that unlawful activity, like
a meth lab or marijuana grow op, is taking place in a rental residential
premises.

The bylaw can then require the owner to repair the rental property so
that it meets the standards of maintenance required (this includes
fixing the plumbing, wiring, insulation, and structure if needed.)

The costs associated with receiving a re-occupancy permit will be around
$1,300, the bylaw states.

The bylaw also requires the landlord to become diligent. That includes
better inquiries into tenant's backgrounds and also the bylaw suggests
that occasional inspections of a rental home by the landlord will
prevent this bylaw from being enacted.

The people that have voiced their concern against this bylaw, including
members of the Tenants Rights Action Coalition, argue that it is an
infringement on tenant's rights and it asks landlords to do a police
officers job.

Despite reports in the Vancouver Province, the township didn't reject an
identical bylaw.

The same bylaw was drafted for township council to give readings to, but
after meeting with the city to discuss the bylaw, council voted to have
it sent back to staff for a full report on the legalities and costs
associated with implementing the bylaw.

According to township senior bylaw officer Bill Storie, the bylaw is
workable in the township.

And the township's lawyers who, along with the city lawyers, drafted the
bylaw, believe that it would stand up in court if it ever came to that.
"My personal opinion is that we have to start somewhere (with the
problem of marijuana grow ops) and this bylaw is a pro-active approach,"
Storie said. A similar type of bylaw is currently being addressed in
Surrey.