NWTU August Community Party!
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If you've been renting the same apartment for a while now, you're almost certainly paying less than the current high market price of over $2000 for a new apartment. In fact, many renters are holding their apartments for as long as they can because moving is simply unaffordable. However, with increasing pressure from on high to build denser market housing around SkyTrain stations, long-term renters who work, shop, and support our communities are at higher risk of being evicted by a developer demolishing the building for a new high-rise.
Do you want to have to find new housing at the current rents just because someone sold your apartment to a developer? New housing should never come at the cost of pricing us out of our own city.
Thankfully, there is a way. Renters downtown have been fighting for a new policy to protect themselves, and they're winning. With only one vote to go later this year to approve it, it's time for you to show up to protect yourself too. If you want New Westminster to be the second city in the province to guarantee any renter who loses their home to redevelopment is guaranteed a new apartment at the same rent, then join the party and sign our photo petition to send a clear message to City Hall!
Join The Party!
Where: 514 Carnarvon Street, Holy Trinity Cathedral
When: August 23rd at 2pm
What:
- Free food, snacks, and drinks
- Good people and conversation
- A renter-themed Trivia Game to learn about your rights
- A 50/50 raffle
- Prizes donated by local businesses
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What do we want?
- To build a community of renters in the New Westminster who look out for each other through thick and thin
- To fill our photo petition, end to end, to show City Council that 50% of this city are renters and they’re not going anywhere
Enjoy some food with your neighbours while learning about your rights and what a mutual aid community looks like.
This event is brought to you by a team of neighbours downtown who can't afford to lose their homes!
How This Started
In the fall of 2023, the government of British Columbia passed Bill 47, a new law that allows developers to build high-rise towers within 800 metres of every Skytrain station.
New West is known for its older, walk-up rental buildings. Because of rising rents, a lot of renters in those buildings have held onto their apartments for many years to keep their rent affordable.
With this new pressure to build higher density housing, many of those shorter buildings on Agnes, Carnarvon, and Royal could be torn down, forcing the existing tenants to move into unaffordable new rent. Many have said they would have no choice but to leave the city or even the whole province.
The city’s current Tenant Relocation Policy only requires developers to pay three months rent to existing tenants. If you are paying below market rents, you need a new policy!
What’s Been Won?
In 2024, your neighbours banded together to tell the City of New Westminster we needed a new policy, and City Hall agreed.
The city has begun drafting the new policy, inspired by Burnaby. A report was released in March 2025 which proposed your right to…
A New Apartment - In the brand new building unless you refuse it in exchange for a cash settlement.
At the Same Rent - Whatever rent you pay now, you’ll pay in the new building. You keep your affordable rent.
With Expenses - Developer covers your moving expenses AND must subsidize the rent of wherever you live during construction.
That means if you pay $1400 now and have to live in a $2200 apartment for three years during construction, they pay you $800 every month.
But the final policy has not yet been approved!
Where to Next?
In March, a group of downtown tenants met to read the report and gave their feedback to City Council. With renters watching, the city voted to move forward, and addressed feedback concerning unit size, pets, and enforcement.
However, the final policy still needs to be approved by City Council. If you and your neighbours in your building want a policy that protects your current rent and makes developers pay for expenses if they tear it down, you need to get them involved. You’ll need everyone ready for that final vote.
Want to Win?
- Attend the party on August 23rd
- Hand out these brochures in your building
- Educate your neighbours on the issues
- Host a house meeting or social in your building to talk as a group and organize
Nervous, need materials or want help? Contact the New Westminster Tenants Union.
We have worked with renters across the city to help knock on doors, host meetings, build community, and educate renters on their rights.
Only you can build power in your building, and we can help.
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