Vancouver renter questions landlord's 'duplicitous' new payment scheme

A Vancouver man is worried that a new payment scheme introduced by his landlord means he’ll soon be paying more for his two-bedroom apartment in the city’s West End neighbourhood.

Wesley Harmer has rented at the 84-suite Holly Lodge building for five years and intended on renewing for a sixth when his lease expires at the end of the month.

But major changes in his new lease documents have raised red flags.

Instead of his current rent of $2,225 per month — utilities included except hydro — the new agreement quotes a lower rental rate but insists he open an account at APT Utility Corp. to