The NDP is raising the alarm after speaking with a landlord who admitted that he has raised his rent not because of increased expenses, but because of demand.

Party Leader Jim Dinn believes rent controls will stop what he calls opportunistic price gouging in the market.

Dinn says he understands that costs have increased for small landlords, and that reasonable increases are to be expected, however he’s seen cases where the rate more than doubled from $1,100 monthly to $2,500 “overnight.”

He’s calling on the provincial government to bring in rent and vacancy controls, and more community-based housing options.