Landlords Must Be Aware Of Rent Control Regime

The objectives of Bermuda's rent control regime are to provide tenants with security of tenure so that a court order is required to evict a tenant -- and also to prevent landlords from arbitrarily and unfairly increasing a tenant's rent payments. In this column, I will address the latter objective.

Currently, residential properties with an annual rental value ("ARV") threshold of $27,000 or less fall under the rent control regime. Previous AVR thresholds have been set at $24,000 or less, $16,200 or less and $9,900 or less.

A property can easily fall into or out of rent control, either when the threshold itself is altered, or when the ARV of a property is altered. The best way to check if a property is -- or has ever been -- rent controlled, is to contact the Office of the Rent Commissioner.