COVID-19 Support for McGill Ridge Tenants

COVID-19 relief

COVID-19 Support for McGill Ridge Tenants

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating anxiety and uncertainty for all Canadians, including apartment renters throughout the country. Many Canadians will require some form of COVID-19 relief. With layoffs, work shortages and imposed Federal and Provincial stay-at-home orders, the disruption to life and financial uncertainty may be reality for weeks or months to come. We at McGill Ridge (McGill West Investments Inc) understand our tenants’ concerns.

The health and safety of our tenants and employees is a top priority during this crisis. We’re here to work with you and will continue to provide safe and secure rental housing, despite the current challenges.

UPDATE: many COVD-19 related relief programs have shut down and HTML pages removed. Some links below have been removed.

McGill Ridge Apartments Rental Payments

Because rent is due on the 1st day of each month and failure to pay rent may result in your tenancy being placed in default, we encourage tenants who are experiencing financial hardship to apply for any COVID-19 support for which they qualify. Federal and Provincial governments and private businesses have implemented COVID-19 relief to help Canadians that need it.

If you have any questions or concerns about rental payments, please contact us. We’re here to help!

Government and Private COVID-19 Relief & Support

The following is an overview of programs that can help you with rent, utilities, job loss and/or work shortages.

BC Temporary Rental Supplement (BC-TRS)
The BC government created the BC-TRS, a rent relief program, to assist tenants in need of assistance with rent payments. A $500/month rental subsidy is available to applicants who qualify.

Tenants must complete the application themselves. A landlord cannot apply on your behalf.

To be eligible, tenants must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a gross household income of less than $74,150 for singles and couples without dependents, or less than $113,040 for households with dependents
  • As a result of COVID-19:
    • Be receiving or eligible for Employment Insurance; or
    • Be receiving or eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit offered by the federal government; or
    • Have experienced, and are able to provide evidence of, a drop of 25% or more in monthly household employment income
  • Be paying more than 30% of current household income towards rent

Please refer to the BC-TRS page for the latest information and criteria details.

BC Hydro COVID-19 Relief Fund
If you or your spouse or partner have stopped working as a result of COVID-19, you may be eligible for up to three months credit on your BC Hydro bill. Eligible customers can apply any time until June 30, 2020.

Fortis COVID-19 Customer Recovery Fund
The Fortis COVID-19 relief program assists those in receipt of Fortis residential or small business services, including natural gas, propane and electrical. Residential customers will have bills automatically deferred from April 1 to June 30, 2020. An interest-free repayment schedule will be created with your input, spreading repayments out over the next 12 months.

ICBC
ICBC offers COVID-19 support to BC customers in several ways. Insurance payments and other transactions may be completed online or by phone, and monthly Autoplan payments may be deferred for up to 90 days without penalty.

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
The CERB provides temporary income support to those who would usually not quality for Employment Insurance. CERB provides up to $500/week for up to 16 weeks. To qualify, you must:

  • Have stopped working as a result of COVID-19, have not voluntarily quit your job, and are not eligible for regular EI benefits or EI sickness benefits
  • Had income of at least $5000 in 2019 or in the 12-months prior to the date of your application
  • Expect to be without employment or self-employment for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week benefit period and no employment in subsequent benefits periods

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
If you run a business, you may be eligible for a 75% wage subsidy for up to 12 weeks retroactive to March 15, 2020. The aim of the program is to help employers keep employees on the payroll and avoid layoffs during the pandemic.

Increase to GST Tax Credit
The GST tax credit has been increased (roughly doubled) for those who qualify. If you filed your 2018 tax return and normally receive the GST/HST tax credit, you’ll receive the extra payment amount automatically.

BC Emergency Benefit for Workers

The Emergency Benefit for Workers provides a $1,000 one-time payment to BC residents whose ability to work has been affected by COVID-19.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Reside in BC
  • Be in receipt of Federal Employment Insurance Benefits or the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

How We’re Keeping You Safe

Several weeks ago, we closed the common fitness room for the protection of tenants and staff. As with all recreational facilities, the fitness room will remain closed until further notice. We’ve implemented a rigorous daily cleaning regimen, including a twice-daily sanitization of high-touch surfaces (common area door handles, elevator pads, access panel buttons and mailboxes).

How You Can Stay Safe

Tenants should adhere to government orders and recommendations, including:

  • Staying at home except for essential errands
  • Going to the grocery store once per week
  • Sending one member of the household for errands
  • Exercising at home or staying two metres apart from others when outside the home
  • Avoiding public places like malls
  • Not allowing visitors to come into your home

View the up-to-date list of physical distancing orders at HealthLink BC.

 

Please stay safe!

Sincerely,

The McGill Ridge Apartments Team