Residents of The Williston face increases of up to 24 per cent over 18 months, renewing debate about rent control and housing affordability.

Seniors living at The Williston in Regina’s Harbour Landing neighbourhood are raising concerns about rent increases they fear could make their homes unaffordable.

According to CTV News Regina, some residents have been notified of increases of up to 24 per cent over approximately 18 months. One resident said her monthly housing cost could eventually reach $3,600.

“It’s just too much,” resident Heather Schnare told CTV News.

The increases have caused anxiety among seniors who may have limited capacity to absorb higher costs or find another suitable home. Moving can also mean leaving friends, familiar surroundings and an established support network.

The Saskatchewan NDP has renewed its call for provincial rent control, arguing that the situation illustrates the consequences of leaving tenants without limits on rent increases.

The provincial government opposes rent control. In a statement reported by CTV News, the government argued that rent controls can discourage housing investment, delay maintenance and reduce the supply of rental accommodation.

The Williston said the planned adjustments affect approximately 10 per cent of its residents and are being introduced gradually. It said the average increase for residents affected by the full schedule is less than 12 per cent over the implementation period. Residents will receive six months’ notice before the first adjustment, and the increases will be accompanied by an expanded package of services.

Opinion

The government is right to be concerned about housing supply. Regina needs more rental homes, and public policy should encourage responsible investment and construction.

But increasing supply is not, by itself, adequate protection for people facing a sudden and substantial rent increase today.

A 20 or 24 per cent increase may be presented as a market adjustment, but for a senior living on a fixed income, it can become an eviction in everything but name. When rent rises much faster than income, the tenant is left with an impossible choice: cut spending on food, medication and other essentials, or leave the community they call home.

This is particularly troubling when seniors have chosen a residence because of the services, accessibility, security and social connections it provides. Moving from such a home is not as simple as finding a cheaper apartment.

Saskatchewan should establish reasonable limits on annual rent increases while allowing clearly defined exceptions for major renovations, increased services or extraordinary operating costs. Any exceptional increase should require documentation, advance notice and an accessible process through which tenants can ask questions or challenge an unreasonable adjustment.

The province should also consider additional measures, including:

• Longer notice periods for substantial rent increases;
• Stronger protections for seniors and other tenants on fixed incomes;
• Clear disclosure showing how service charges and rent adjustments are calculated;
• A transparent review or appeal process for exceptional increases;
• Increased investment in affordable, supportive and seniors’ housing; and
• Property-tax or development incentives tied to the creation of genuinely affordable rental units.

The choice should not be framed as either protecting tenants or building more housing. Saskatchewan can—and must—do both.

Regina should remain a city where seniors can age with dignity and security. People who have spent decades building our communities should not face displacement because their housing costs suddenly rise beyond what their pensions can support.

The experience of The Williston residents should prompt a serious provincial conversation about reasonable rent protections. Housing is an investment, but it is also a home. Our laws and policies must recognize both realities.