We’ve updated our pricing plans again as of June 2023 to better meet the evolving needs of landlords & property managers. Please click here for the most up-to-date pricing information.

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What’s changing about liv.rent’s landlord pricing plans?

We’re lowering the prices of our landlord & property manager plans across the board, as well as giving each plan a clearer identity with new features tailored to every stage of your rental business’ development, with convenient pay-per-use options for beginning landlords. Here’s a quick breakdown of the new plans and what each includes:

Note: Automated Direct Deposits are coming soon

Let’s also quickly look at how these plans have evolved from our previous plan structure, and who each plan was designed for.

Essentials Plan – Free

Formerly the Personal plan, our free Essentials plan is an excellent starting point for novice landlords to discover how liv.rent’s rental management and automation features can help them save time and create a more effective, efficient rental process. Landlords on our Essentials plan get a sneak peek of our premium features, with access to basic versions of some of our most exciting rental tools. With this free plan, you’ll get:

• Unlimited listings & tenant inquiries
• Option to purchase Trust Score reports for $16.99 each
• Basic digital contracts
• Support for one user

Growth Plan – $48/Month

Our Family plan has become the Growth plan, with a more accessible price point at $48 per month, billed monthly – reduced from $79. Specifically designed for growing landlords and property managers looking to scale their portfolios and take their rental business to the next level. The Growth plan is effectively an all-in-one property management software package, with all the tools you’ll need to digitize and streamline your rental process from start to finish. This plan includes:

• Unlimited lease addendums
• Advanced tenant screening with 2 included credit checks per month
• Standard digital contracts
• Automated rent collection & organization
• Shared management tools for up to 3 users

…plus everything in our Essentials plan.

Business Plan – $399/Month

Our new and improved Business plan is tailored to seasoned landlords, investors and brokerages who aim to optimize their marketing and rental management operations. This updated plan has a more accessible price at just $399 per month, billed monthly, down from $439, in addition to an increased range of top-level features, such as:

• Unlimited automated rent collection
• Advanced tenant screening with 15 included credit checks per month
• Extensive marketing suite and optimization solutions
• Custom contracts and addendums
• Team management for up to 10 users

…plus everything in our Growth plan.

Why are we changing our pricing plans?

Our aim with these revamped plans was to provide our community of landlords and property managers with more accessible plans better tailored to their needs. With lower prices for our updated Growth and Business plans, it’s never been more affordable to access comparable all-in-one property management software which typically costs nearly ten times the price. We also felt strongly about maintaining a free Essentials plan so that starting landlords or those curious to explore our premium features could access basic management features with ease.

When do these changes go into effect?

Our new pricing plans are already in effect for landlords and property managers looking to upgrade now. Our previous plans will be officially phased out on April 15, 2022, following a 30-day grace period that begins March 15. During this time, users on our legacy plans will still be able to access all of the features included in their plan without interruption. After April 15, users who haven’t upgraded their plans will automatically be downgraded to our free Essentials plan.

How should I proceed?

In order to prevent users on your account from temporarily losing access, we recommend upgrading to a plan that fits your needs before April 15. If you forget to upgrade or choose not to take action, your account will automatically be downgraded to our free Essentials plan – but don’t worry, you can upgrade your account again at any time.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the plan we recommend based on the number of users and listings on your account:

• 1 User, 1 Listing: Essentials / Growth
• 1 User, 2-3 Listings: Growth
• 1-3 Users, 1-4 Listings: Growth
• 3 Users, 4-10 Listings: Growth / Business
• 4-15 Users, 5+ Listings: Business

Frequently asked questions: New landlord pricing plans

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post Feature Update: New Pricing Plans For Landlords & Property Managers appeared first on liv.rent blog.

Whether you’re a property manager seeking to list and promote a few condos, a recently relocated family looking to rent a home, or a student heading back to university in Toronto, liv.rent makes it easy!

liv.rent & Toronto Renters

Toronto area renters will be able to search verified listings in the palm of their hand or on their computer’s browser. You’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking for; search in list or map view, and refine your search using our extensive filters. Reach out to verified landlords and property managers using liv.rent’s chat function, which will save all rental-related conversations in-app for easy reference.

Once you’ve narrowed your list of potential rentals, complete your renter resume ONCE to serve as your application to ALL the properties that interest you! Once you find the perfect place, sign your lease contract digitally and set up secure, digital rent payments through liv.rent!

liv.rent & Toronto Landlords and Property Managers

Toronto’s Landlords and Property Managers will be able to generate quality leads quickly and easily. Rely on liv.rent’s intelligent rating system to assess your renter’s reliability, and search suggested and verified tenants to secure the best renters for your properties. Additionally, you can leverage liv.rent to promote property listings across multiple platforms like Kijiji, Zumper, Craigslist, and Facebook groups for maximum exposure.

Also, simplify and limit in-person viewings by uploading 3D video tours of your property. This offers prospective tenants an enhanced, interactive virtual tour which may negate the need for a live showing (especially now during COVID restrictions). 

Manage it all through an information-rich, up-to-date, landlord dashboard in your preferred browser. Here, a singular view will serve as a portal to manage listings, compare applicants, track lease contracts, book showings and much more!

liv.rent is also dedicated to enriching and building a better rental community. In addition to monthly rent reports and articles on liv.rent’s new features, neighbourhoods and the rental market, we also host a variety of webinars offering both renters and landlords, insights into the rental market from the perspective of various real estate and property management professionals.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive monthly updates on Canada’s major rental markets. Discover last month’s Rent Reports below:

Vancouver Rent Report
Ontario Rent Report
Montreal Rent Report
Calgary and Edmonton Rent Report

The post liv.rent is Coming to Toronto! appeared first on liv.rent blog.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced many industries to push their digital transformation timeline forward. What was once a well-calibrated transition down the pipe, is suddenly an immediate necessity for basic business continuity and, indeed, survival.

Just as disruptive digital innovation changed the way we booked a ride, or accommodation before COVID-19, it is now compelling companies and customers to adopt and adapt digital solutions quickly or be left behind.

Vancouver-based liv.rent, launched in 2018, seems ready-built for these times.

This digital platform offers renters, landlords and property managers an all-in-one tool for finding, securing and managing rental properties. Initially created to address many of the pain points associated with renting – dubious landlords, unreliable tenants, difficult scheduling and outdated rent payment options – liv.rent has suddenly found another advantage. It facilitates an end-to-end, contact-free rental process – so vital in these times of social distancing and quarantine.

liv.rent’s clean, simple mobile interface and complementary website deliver a feature-rich, intuitive user experience that renters, landlords and property managers can leverage to their mutual advantage. All documents, contracts and transactions sent and stored on the platform are secured with AES-256-CTR and SHA1, similar to military-grade encryption.

Landlords and property managers can advertise their listings easily and effectively by uploading images and video tours. They can leverage the ‘suggested tenant feature’ to find, connect and chat with tenants; conduct easy tenant screening via the platform including credit checks, income verification etc.; expedite the entire rental process by sending and receiving applications, sending and signing standard BC Residential Tenancy Agreements and requesting and receiving payments – digitally.

Tenants, in turn, can search for rentals using a list view or map view; connect and chat directly with verified landlords/property managers; complete a renter profile once to serve as your rental application to multiple properties; maintain a record of all conversations and documents in app; sign a lease contract digitally; and pay your rent through the app.

Early adopters like property management company W Brothers Real Estate Group say they particularly appreciate the fact that tenants using liv.rent are pre-screened and verified (as are landlords/property managers), digital lease contracts can be issued, signed and extended automatically, and rent payment collection can all happen in-app.

“Millennials are used to technology and how it transforms day to day life,” says Kevin Wang, rental property manager at W Brothers Real Estate Group. “For them, using digital platforms like liv.rent is second nature. They expect them. It saves everyone time and expedites the rental process. And, right now, it offers the type of contact-free experience needed to follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.”

Now, under the current restrictions, W Brothers Real Estate Group have witnessed a significant uptick in interest in their properties on liv.rent from prospective tenants seeking an alternative to traditional face-to-face meetings, viewings and contract signing.

They’ve responded by leveraging additional digital tools like video, one of the latest features released on the platform, allowing landlords and property managers to upload virtual video in lieu of in-person site visits. This way, they are able to streamline the viewing process, minimizing in-person contact.

To learn more about liv.rent, visit liv.rent.

The post Tenants and landlords choosing digital, contact-free ways to secure rentals appeared first on liv.rent blog.

In these unprecedented and uncertain times, managing any and all of your responsibilities can seem daunting. However, knowing that your friends, neighbours and fellow global citizens are sharing this experience, will hopefully add a level of comfort and encouragement. 

For landlords, what are your responsibilities to your tenants and your rental property during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis?  For tenants, how should you respond?

Table of Contents

Quick Snapshot: COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 FAQ

Landlord Update

Quick Overview:

• How should I manage my rentals during the pandemic?
• What financial supports are available for landlords?
• What best practices should I follow?
• What are other tips to keep in mind?

How should I manage my rentals during the pandemic?   

Communication is key. Keeping open communication with your tenant and strata council during these uncertain times is crucial, as well as documenting all such communications. For tenants who may be struggling, share information regarding the latest federal and provincial assistance and relief programs available to them and all Canadians.  

If you are restructuring or decreasing rent payments for any tenant, it is crucial to get your new agreement in writing, stipulating the proposed time frame, with signatures from all parties on the document. 

In addition, if you rely on your tenant to help make mortgage payments, the federal government is permitting mortgage payment deferrals. If you wish to apply for a deferral, follow the steps outlined by the CMHC here. 

Ensure compliance with occupancy limits. The maximum number of permanent residents in a rental unit should be set out in your Tenancy Agreement.  

NOTE: According to the RTA of BC, landlords cannot limit the number of visitors a tenant hosts under reasonable circumstances in the rental unit. During this time, you can only rely on the common sense and decency of your tenants to exercise social distancing and avoid inviting guests over. 

End tenancy properly. Many people are leaving Canada to go home and be with their families during this time, which may require them to end tenancies early. If both parties mutually agree to end the tenancy early, be sure to go through the appropriate process and documentation. For more information, refer to our Landlord Guide to Ending Tenancies. 

Respect privacy if tenant tests positive for COVID-19. This information is confidential and personal and should not be shared with other tenants. The regional health authority, however, may reach out to neighbours if it is revealed there has been contact. They will also reach out to building management to deal with staff concerns over the infection.

What financial supports are available for landlords?

Mortgage deferrals – Canada’s big six banks will allow mortgage payment deferrals for up to six months. If you find yourself in this situation, follow the guidelines outlined by the CMHC to successfully defer your payments. (Source: globalnews.com, financialpost.com)

Tax Extensions – The federal government has extended the tax filing deadline to June 1 from March 31st and deferred tax payments until after Aug. 31 for tax payments due between now and before September. 

Small Business – A Temporary Wage Subsidy is available for employers, like landlords, enabling them to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and an up to 75% wage subsidy, retroactive to March 15, 2020. This will help businesses keep and return workers to the payroll. Learn more about this subsidy here.

Commercial Rent – The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program has been put in place to help small businesses continue to make payments during COVID-19. The deadline to apply is October 30, 2020, and offers commercial landlords a forgivable loan worth 50% of the value of the small business’ rent each month. The loans will be forgiven if the borrower complies with all applicable program terms and conditions — including to not recover forgiven rent amounts when the program is over.

For information on how the BC government is supporting landlords and renters, click here.

What best practices should I follow?

Practice Social Distancing. Some ways to help #FlattenTheCurve:

Post signage encouraging tenants to take the stairs for exercise and to avoid confined elevator space. 

Close shared amenity spaces like gyms, pool, saunas, party rooms etc. 

Promote going digital. Offer video tours of available properties for prospective tenants and encourage online, digital contract signing and payments. (For additional ways to go digital in work and in life, see the Go Digital section below.)

What are other tips I should keep in mind?

Keep your property clean. As part of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), landlords and property managers are responsible for maintaining a safe rental unit and residential property. In these circumstances, safety should most definitely apply to cleanliness throughout all common areas of a residential property. Install hand sanitizer dispensers near ‘high-touch’ areas like doors and elevators and restrict the use of common areas to protect against the transmission of COVID-19.   Do your part!

Practice compassion. While everyone’s situations and circumstances are different, we are all in this together. This is not the best time to consider eviction – in fact, BC Housing has called for a moratorium on evictions of tenants in subsidized and affordable housing. Work with your tenant to come up with a solution to any rent payment challenges and keep your ears open for government relief offered to tenants. 

Renter Tips Update

Quick Overview

• What should I do with my lease agreement during the pandemic?
• What financial supports are available to renters?
• What best practices should I follow?

What should I do with my lease agreement during the pandemic?

You do not need to do anything with your lease agreement UNLESS you need to end your tenancy to return home OR revise it to reflect newly negotiated terms.

Ending your tenancy early may be a necessity for travelers and those needing to reassess their finance. Communicate this to your landlord as soon as you know your plans to vacate the property. Make sure you end your tenancy by providing appropriate notice and conferring with your landlord on any money you may owe for leaving early.

Understand the rules around rent deposits. You may lose your deposit if you are breaking a lease but we recommend discussing this with your landlord who will hopefully return it on compassionate grounds given the situation.

Revise lease agreement. If your employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, you can:

ask your landlord to temporarily reduce your rent. In this case, make sure you revise your original lease agreement to reflect new terms; and 

enter into a Rent Repayment Plan with your landlord. The government of BC has stated that renters have until July 2021 to make payments for rent and utilities owed from March 18 to August 17. Your landlord may not give you notice to evict for these missing payments if you stick to the agreed upon plan.

What financial supports are available for renters?

Rent Relief

• The BC Temporary Wage Supplement has ended as of August 31. Renters may still be eligible for federal funding from the Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, and Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit.
• BC Government has lifted the ban on evictions for non-payment of rent, however landlords CANNOT issue notices to evict on grounds of unpaid rent for the period of March 18, 2020, to August 17, 2020, unless the renter defaults on an agreed upon repayment plan.
• Rent increases have been frozen as of April 1 until December 1, 2020.

Recovery Benefit

The Recovery Benefit (CRB) is administered by the CRA and provides income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Recovery Sickness Benefit

The Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) is available for employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they’re sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19. Those who have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19 may also be eligible. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Recovery Caregiving Benefit

The Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) is a support for employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care.This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they’re sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Employment Insurance (EI)

• The one-week waiting period for employment insurance has been waived.
• The Emergency Response Benefit is also available to anyone who has lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate Action Tax Credit

Was a one-time enhancement to the climate action tax credit will be paid in July 2020 for moderate to low-income families.

Tax Credit and Income Tax relief

• Extension of the tax filing deadline to June 1 from March 31st.
• Deferred tax payments until after Aug. 31 for tax payments that are due between now and before September.
• A temporary boost to Canada Child Benefit payments, delivering about $2 billion in extra support to families with children.
• The Federal Government has announced an extension to the Emergency Wage Subsidy for Employers, that will now run until November 21, 2020. This three-month measure enables eligible employers to reduce the amount of payroll deductions required to be remitted to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Student Loan Deferral

• Federal and BC provincial student loan payments have resumed as of October 1, 2020, however the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) will not charge interest on federally-funded student loans from March 30 to September 30.

Rental Assistance Program (BC Housing)

This program provides eligible low-income working families with cash assistance to help with their monthly rent payments. During this pandemic, the following temporary changes have been made to the program:

• Clients with reduced employment income on or after March 1, 2020 may request a short-term adjustment to their monthly benefit. The adjusted benefit amount is effective the month the decrease occurs. BC Housing must be notified within 4 months for clients to receive this benefit.
• New RAP applicants with reduced income may have their eligibility and benefit calculation temporarily based on new, reduced income. In addition, the Emergency Care Benefit from the federal government will be considered a qualifying, employment replacement income.
• The 12 month BC Residency requirement will also be waived for any applicants that meet all other eligibility criteria.

Other Assistance

British Columbians needing more time to pay their bills can also apply to existing payment deferral programs at ICBC and BC Hydro.

• ICBC is offering customers on a monthly Autoplan payment plan some relief. They can defer their payment for up to 90 days with no penalty.
• BC Hydro has announced that through their customer service hotline, customers can arrange for deferment of payments or set up a payment schedule, as well as apply for the BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund.
• April 2, 2020 – BC’s provincial government is temporarily adding $300 to the monthly amount for people on income and disability assistance to help them during the COVID-19 crisis. The supplement will also go to low-income seniors who receive the B.C. Senior’s Supplement and people who receive income or disability assistance and live in a special care facility.

>> Recommended Reading: COVID 19 Rent Relief Canada – Rental Assistance By Province and Territory

What best practices should I follow?

Practice Social Distancing. Help #flattenthecurve by following the instructions set forth by your government and health professionals re. social distancing, self-quarantining and proper hygiene, washing your hands and sanitizing surfaces frequently and keeping away from non-household members.

Rely on digital communications.  Avoid in-person interactions with your landlord by making digital rent payments and communicating via text or email, and be sure to keep records of these interactions. 

If necessary, request a rent reduction or deferral using digital means and if your landlord agrees to rent relief, ensure the terms, duration and amount of the rent relief is documented and signed by both parties. Read our post: How to Pay Rent to your Landlord (for additional ways to go digital in work and in life, Go Digital section below). 

Ensure privacy if you test positive for COVID-19. This information is confidential and personal and should not be shared with other tenants or your landlord unless you choose to do so. The regional health authority, however, may reach out to your neighbours if it is revealed there has been contact. They will also reach out to building management to deal with staff concerns over infections.

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liv.rent – Canada’s trusted house & apartment rental website

Search apartments, condos, and homes for rent.

Verified Landlords: Rent from a trusted landlord. Look for the “ID Verified” tag to identify which landlords have been pre-screened.

Quality Rentals: Browse listings that have been checked by our team. Verified by official documents or by mail.

One-Click Applications: Fill out your Renter Resume once and apply to multiple listings in just a few clicks.

Find Rentals Near You

Tools To Go Digital

As more companies transition to remote work, the need for online tools is at an all-time high. Here are some tools our team uses. 

For business:

Video conferencing tools: 

• Zoom – Zoom offers a free version of their collaboration software to users and has lifted the 40-minute time cap in areas hit hardest by the pandemic. 
• Whereby – A free, basic version is available to all users. 
• Teams – Microsoft is offering free versions of their premium collaboration software to all companies.   

Team and task management: 

• Slack – Consolidates all work communication on one platform including messaging, video, voice conferencing, and more.
• Asana– Offering free trials of their premium software so you can move beyond to-do lists to project planning and management. 

Managing your rentals: 

• liv.rent – our all-in-one platform facilitates digital contract signing, online rent request/payment, and extensive tenant screening tools to help you continue your business as the current situation evolves and adhere to social distancing mandates. The following plans are designed for landlords and property managers to navigate current restrictions with ease, regardless of what stage your rental business is at.
  • Essentials – Post unlimited listings, receive unlimited inquiries, and try out the new and improved Trust Score feature with two included uses
  • Growth – Grow your business with support for up to 3 users, 15 included Trust Score uses per month, digital lease addendums & more
  • Business – For seasoned veterans looking to scale their portfolios, this plan includes 150 Trust Score uses per month, unlimited automated rent collection, marketing tools & more

For Personal:

Groceries:

• Spud – Online grocery shopping with free home delivery of fresh across Metro Vancouver.
• Instacart – Instacart allows you to shop from various independent grocers and drugstores online or through an app.
• Local grocery store websites and apps 

Restaurants 

• UberEats – Food delivery app currently waiving all delivery fees for local restaurants. 
• Doordash – Food delivery app currently waiving fees they charge restaurants.
• Order directly from local restaurants and help them through this challenging time. Continuing to order from local businesses keeps them afloat and, in turn, helps them help their employees stay afloat.

Support local:

• Buy gift cards for future use from local small businesses 
• Shop for groceries in smaller local stores to avoid big box crowds. 

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liv.rent Support

At liv.rent, we are committed to continuing the same quality and amount of customer support we have always provided. Our team of dedicated liv agents will be online and available during our core business hours between 9am PST to 7pm PST, Monday to Friday through the following channels: 

• Live Chat on our website 
• liv Bot  
• Facebook Messenger 
• Email 
• Phone (direct liv agent support line) 
• WeChat 

Jobs in Vancouver

As more businesses and services are temporarily shuttering their doors, some are still looking for workers. We’ve assembled a list of such employers, and some tools to help you get your job search started.

• AppJobs helps connect you with service apps that are constantly seeking more help. Through this site, you can find postings for positions with Uber, Instacart, TaskRabbit, and more.
• RecruitingInMotion is currently looking for General Labour and other Temporary to Full-time workers for their roster.
• Amazon and Microsoft are constantly updating postings for developer positions in the Greater Vancouver Area.

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Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Learn More

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post Coronavirus (COVID-19) Canada – Update For Landlords and Tenants appeared first on liv.rent blog.

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