Building safety: at what price?

In collaboration with the municipalities, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec continues to raise its standards for building security and fire safety. In the past few years, new rules have been added on the inspection and upgrading of equipment related to fire alarm systems, fire separations, emergency lighting, building facades, elevated parking structures, cooling towers, elevators, etc.

The most serious problem is that these standards lead to additional property operating costs that aren’t included in the criteria for setting rent, and therefore are not transferable. As a member of several different committees, CORPIQ is repeating its message to the Minister of Labour and the Régie du bâtiment, as well as the Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Régie du logement: “If public safety is in fact your priority, discuss this further and be more coherent in your measures.”

Furthermore, the deadlines to comply are often unreasonable, which tends to push costs up, especially now as suppliers are gaining more power over landlords.