Landlord wants to increase rent from $1400 to $1900 in January, because their mortgage rate increased. Either I comply or they asked me to move.

I live in Newton Surrey in a 2bedroom Basement, I have been living here since 2020. There isn’t any written lease, it was all verbal agreements since we started living here. In 2020 my rent was $1350 then they increase by $50 to $1400 in 2021.

This year, in July 2023 the landlord increased my rent by $200, with just 1 month notice. Giving the same excuse about mortgage rates. I complied with him even though the rent increase in BC was only around 2-3%. I just wanted to be more understanding of what landlord is going through and didn’t mind paying $200 extra, just to make sure I keep a good relationship with the landlord.

But today, the landlord came again and just told me that he’ll be increase my rent again, by $300 making it $1900 starting January 2024, which is 2 months from now. I told him that it is way too much rent increase within such short time (as he already has increased my rent 4 months ago by $200). I even said,“ Atleast give me 3 months before you increase the rent and not just 2months.” He just replied, “Rent is going up in January, if you can’t, you can find a new place then”. He is increasing rent basically by $500 in 1 year. He told me that his mortgage rates are also high now so he has to increase the rent.

I am just a little confused about if I am protected under the BC tenancy law, as I dont have any written lease or agreement with landlord. Or can he kick me out if I don’t comply with his rent increase demand? What should be my course of action from now on? I have not agreed to the rent increase as of yet.

Any help would be appreciated.

Edit - Typo

Edit 2 - Just wanted to add this as this information as it seems important. Landlord lives in the same house building as me. However, I do not share my kitchen or Bathroom or living area with landlord. He lives on the Second floor of the house. I live on ground floor, with my separate entrance, separate Kitchen, bathroom and living area. Only thing shared with Landlord is my Driveway where I park my car or maybe Backyard, that I never use.

Update 1 - I called RTB and they said same thing as all the comments about their illegal rent increase. I texted the landlord on WhatsApp, stating they just increased the rent 5 month ago and can’t do it again. Their reply was, “ our mortgage has also gone up by $2000, we will talk about the Rent to next renters. Also you guys don’t keep the basement clean. Let me know how inch time you need to move out”. Now my question here is, Can they evict me because of the cleanliness issue? Given that I work and my room mates work, and we do cleaning on weekends and sometime also through the week. But everytime the landlords wife came to inspect the cleanliness, she just comes without notice, and also any time of the wee or month. Surprise checking!! I mean I’ll be frank, we can not keep the basement fully clean 7 days a week. Is that a probable enough cause for them to evict us? Also, we never caused any DAMAGE to the property.