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VICTORIA — B.C.’s housing minister is exploring lessening the annual rent hikes landlords are allowed to apply to tenants in the province.

Selina Robinson said the current formula, which caps annual allowable rent increases to two per cent plus the rate of inflation, will be under review within her ministry as she tries to find ways to make life more affordable for renters.

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“I’m very curious about those numbers and how they were achieved,” she said in an interview.

Due to inflation, the current maximum rent increase is four per cent in 2018.

“I also feel as a new minister I need to understand what all the pieces are, and I’m very curious where this formula came from and what is the rationale,” said Robinson.

Under the law, landlords may only increase rent once every 12 months, up to the maximum allowable rate, and provide three months notice to tenants.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $1,950 a month, which means the maximum rental increase is $78 this year.