Grievance Case Summary - G-314

The Grievor decided to occupy housing belonging to the RCMP. He was told that his rent would be $306.41 per month. Less than a year later, the rent was increased by $116.90 to $423.31. This increase was due to an increase in the rental value after improvements were made to the building and to an error in calculating the rent reduction to which the applicant was entitled since he was the sole resident. After the Grievor asked for clarification, the rent increase was adjusted to $100 per month. The applicant complained about the 33% increase and stated that he would never have taken this housing had he known he would face such a significant rent increase barely one year later. At Level I, the grievance was deemed inadmissible because the Grievor waited more than two months after having been informed of his rent increase before presenting his grievance, whereas the RCMP Act allows only 30 days to do so.

The grievance was presented on time at Level I because the amount of the increase represented a new decision, creating a new 30-day time limit to present a grievance. The grievance is ill-founded, however. The Treasury Board Government Housing Directive allowed the respondent to increase the rental value of the property as a result of the improvement work. Moreover, the RCMP had to correct the initial error in calculation.

The grievance should be denied.

The Commissioner agreed with the findings and recommendations of the Committee and denied the grievance.