A rental housing crunch in Saskatchewan is being blamed for a spike in evictions, according to the provincial Office of Residential Tenancies.

Terrance Chinn, director of the agency which oversees disputes between landlords and tenants, told CBC News that the number of applications to remove tenants increased by one-third over the past four years.

Chinn said a housing crunch has emboldened some landlords who may feel they no longer have to tolerate tenants who are late with rent or cause damage.

At the same time, Chinn said many tenants need to know they can challenge an unfair eviction.

"We try to really level the playing field when it comes to our hearings. So tenants should be more informed and shouldn't just roll over and take it for granted that there isn't any defence," he said.

Landlords acting on tight market

Jason Hall, one Regina property owner, told CBC News that he is not surprised that evictions are on the rise.

He said it shows that there has been a change in the market.

"At one point, and I would probably say two years ago, we were desperate to put anyone into a place just to make the mortgage payment," Hall said. "Now, what we're seeing is, we have a lineup of people wanting to take places — a better brand of tenant. And, you know, landlords can be a little more fussy now."

That attitude is worrisome to some.

Morris Eagles, a housing advocate and former executive director of the Welfare Rights Centre in Regina, told CBC News that he believes some landlords evict tenants because they don't want to give the required three months notice of a rent increase.

Using an eviction, a landlord can raise the rent for the next tenant right away.

Eagles cited a recent case of a single mother who was evicted with no place to go.

"Then, subsequent to her move, we found out later that that same landlord had rented that place out for $300 a month more," Eagles said.

Tenants should not 'roll over and play dead'

Chinn said tenants should take action if an eviction does not seem fair.

"I think the biggest fault that I'll critique tenants for is that they roll over and play dead instead of sticking up for themselves," Chinn said.

Chinn said his office is often able to work with landlords and tenants to avoid evictions altogether.