Training available for tenants to learn more skills, confidence

Oct 29, 2018 | 12:58 PM

People that would be like to learn to be better tenants are invited to take part in four days of workshops next week.

The Rent Smart Certification, hosted by Community Social Development a department of the city, will be given to those that show up for all four 3-hour sessions, according to Landlord-Tenant Advisor Valerie Thiessen. There will be eight modules covered including topics like tenant rights and responsibilities, landlord rights and expectations, as well as watching for scammers.

“It talks about how to recognize a potential scam and it talks about warning signals and red flags,” she says.

Thiessen says the workshop aims to build knowledge, confidence and skills for people to make better decisions about rental housing.

“Because I am part of the Housing First program, we are looking for ways to help our clients, and of course the general public, to know what their rights and responsibilities. How they can be good tenants and keep their housing.”

Thiessen says they decided to run this program after looking at a model run in Victoria, British Columbia a few years ago. she adds that the certificate acts as a reference when applying for rental housing.

The training is free and available to the public. Sessions will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, November 5 to Thursday, November 8.

Registration is accepted until Thursday, November 1 at 4:30 p.m at city hall, via phone at 780-538-0380 or via email csd@cityofgp.com

by Justine Kelsie