Rent relief; Airbnb Nightmares: CBC’s Marketplace cheat sheet | 24CA News
Miss one thing this week? Don’t panic. CBC’s Marketplace rounds up the patron and well being news you want.
Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace publication each Friday.
Ottawa is now providing a one-time $500 cost to low-income renters
As rising rental costs pressure many tenants’ budgets, some low-income renters can apply for a little bit of reduction.
The federal authorities is providing a one-time $500 cost to assist ease the price of housing.
To qualify, renters have to be tax residents of Canada, and at the least 15 years previous as of Dec. 1. In 2021, your particular person revenue needed to be $20,000 or much less, or your loved ones revenue needed to be beneath $35,000. Applicants needed to have filed 2021 revenue tax returns, and the quantity of hire paid in 2022 needs to be at the least 30 per cent of your 2021 revenue.
There are some additional guidelines you probably have roommates, pay for meals, or pay hire to a relative.
To apply, go to your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) account, or My Service Canada account.
While the federal authorities touted the cost as “immediate relief” for low-income Canadians, anti-poverty advocates informed 24CA News that the reduction will probably be short-lived.
“It is very much a small drop in the bucket,” mentioned Dania Majid, employees lawyer on the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO), pointing to rising demand at meals banks as extra Canadians battle to afford their payments.
“It might help for one month, but what’s the family going to do the next month?” Read extra
The common worth of a Canadian home is down once more, dropping to $632,802 in November
That’s in keeping with new figures from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The variety of dwelling gross sales have fallen as properly, dropping by nearly 40 per cent.
The chilly climate in November usually pushes consumers to the sidelines this time of yr, however the market was particularly frozen this yr.
The common promoting worth of a house positioned on CREA’s Multiple Listing Service was $632,802. That’s 12 per cent under what it was a yr in the past, and down 22 per cent from the height hit in February this yr.
That was earlier than the Bank of Canada began its aggressive marketing campaign of charge hikes, which has taken the wind out of the market’s sails by making it far more costly to borrow cash. Read extra
This story will make you suppose twice earlier than renting your own home out on Airbnb
Cigarette butts, broken furnishings, scattered clumps of hair and blood had been simply a number of the surprises that awaited Samantha Morahan when she checked on her Calgary basement suite after renting it to some on Airbnb.
When the friends arrived, Morahan says she might instantly inform one thing was off, however relied on the truth that their Airbnb account was verified — though the account was new and had no present evaluations.
Morohan mentioned she despatched the friends a message concerning the odor of cigarette smoke coming from the unit earlier than finally confronting them in particular person. The friends denied smoking, and Morohan contacted Airbnb. The rental platform informed her to both ask them to depart, allow them to keep, or name the police.
As the night went on, Morohan heard the couple preventing and getting more and more aggressive. Morohan opted to name the police.
But earlier than authorities arrived, the feminine visitor got here upstairs and began yelling at Morohan, accusing her of getting relations together with her associate.
Eventually the police arrived and satisfied the couple to depart.
Morahan and her husband have taken down their Airbnb account, however she says they will honour present reservations for folks they’ve vetted and have had conversations with.
“But other than that, we’ve stopped our instant booking. We’ve stopped it all.
Airbnb responded saying there are measures in place when situations like these happen — like a 24/7 safety line that’s accessible to all hosts during active reservations, staffed with a team trained in de-escalating dangerous situations.
He says there’s also an AirCover program that provides $3 million in property damage protection. Read more
Happy Holidays!
We’ll be back with the newsletter and new investigations in January.
In the meantime, we wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season.
See you in 2023!
What else is going on?
Average rents in Canada have climbed above $2K for the first time ever
And there are no signs of it slowing.
Stellantis is recalling 1.25 million Ram pickup trucks
Tailgates may not close completely, and cargo could spill onto the road.
This child’s doctor is 2,800 km away
For 10 years, the family has been travelling from Clyde River, Nunavut, to Ottawa as their medical needs became more complex.
Marketplace needs your help
Have you had botox, fillers, laser procedures or any other type of cosmetic treatments? We want to hear about your experience! Send us an email at marketplace@cbc.ca.
Have you purchased a piece of jewelry that wasn’t as advertised? Marketplace wants to hear from you! Email us with your “purchased versus bought” jewellery tales at market@cbc.ca.
Catch up on previous episodes of Marketplace on CBC Gem.
