Pubdate: Fri, 13 Jul 2001
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Website: http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Author: Superintendent C.C. MacDonald, Officer in Charge, Langley RCMP
Note: Comment at the end made by publication editor

FEATURE LETTER: CLEAR MESSAGE

Everyone In The Community Has Rights - And Obligations To The Rest Of 
The Community.

Dear Editor,

The letter to the editor by representatives of the Tenant's Rights 
Coalition [Tenants feel rights violated, June 29, Langley Advance 
News] contains some inaccuracies. Police do not conduct searches 
without a warrant, unless under the exigent circumstances allowed 
under the Criminal Code. At no time during the recent Educational 
Public Forum, nor in any other venue, has the Langley RCMP condoned 
or advocated searches without a warrant.

The proposed [Residential Rental Premises] Bylaw allows for the 
exercise of discretion, and the expectation that each case will be 
dealt with on its own merit. It was designed to help make the 
community safer, by educating renters and owners of rental property 
about the potential for criminal activities in their premises.

There is no "hidden agenda." The intent is to give a clear message to 
everyone involved by giving them the tools necessary to make 
knowledgeable choices.

The educational component includes the health and safety of the 
resident and residence, the rights (and obligations) of the landlord 
and tenant in a rental agreement, and the hazards and items a 
landlord might come upon which could indicate a criminal enterprise.

The proliferation of organized, sophisticated crime groups throughout 
the Lower Mainland has created a need for rental properties in which 
criminal activities can be housed. These groups turn ordinary rental 
properties into chemical drug labs, grow-ops, crack houses, "shooting 
galleries" for injectable drugs, and "trick pads" for prostitutes. 
The entire community is affected, and the Bylaw is designed to 
prevent the deterioration of our community by such activities.

The Bylaw evolved with the input of the Professional Property 
Managers Association, the South Fraser Health Region, the Langley 
RCMP, and the Residential Tenancy Branch.

The June 29 letter to the editor makes the point that landlords would 
be placed in the position of "having to do regular inspections of 
their tenants' homes." The current Residential Tenancy Act stipulates 
the right of the landlord to enter a residential premise, and 
requires that the landlord provide and maintain the property, 
complying with health, safety, and housing standards required by law.

The recommendations of the Bylaw are for the owner of a rental 
property to perform regular maintenance inspections, which will 
protect the investment of the landlord while encouraging a strong and 
healthy rapport with the tenants.

The inspection component of the bylaw is not meant to complicate the 
life of the property owner, only to ensure that the next tenant has a 
safe and healthy environment in which to live.

The Bylaw is the product of a number of community groups and 
professional people coming together to design a workable solution to 
combat a problem which has become a huge concern for our community.

Superintendent C.C. MacDonald Officer in Charge, Langley RCMP

Editor: We are reminded that current tenants aren't the only ones 
with rights in our community. While the proposed bylaw would create a 
less welcome environment for criminal activities such as those 
mentioned by Supt. MacDonald, it would also re-establish the 
landlords' obligation to ensure that the premises they rent out meet 
approved standards, for the good of tomorrow's tenants and the 
community as a whole.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe