Rent increase at Yellowknife transitional housing complex surprises tenants

Residents at Lynn's Place, an affordable women's housing complex in Yellowknife, are raising the alarm about a rent increase.

Residents at Lynn's Place, an affordable women's housing complex in Yellowknife, are raising the alarm about a rent increase.

Starting next February, a bachelor unit is going from $900 to $1,135; a two-bedroom apartment from $1,580 to $1,660; and three-bedroom apartments from $1,750 to $1,930, per month.

One resident at Lynn's Place told CBC she received a letter tucked under her door informing her of the increase.

"When I opened it I was shocked," she said. Initially, she was told her rent would increase by more than $600 a month.

She's frustrated about how residents were told of the situation.

"They could have sat down and talked to us about what was going to be happening instead of just putting that paper under the door," she said.

Since then, the increases have been revised.

Residents were notified of those revisions via hand-delivered letters.

Women receiving income assistance, including the resident that spoke to CBC, should have their increases covered because income assistance is proportional to expenses, including rent.