Housing

A renovated cruise ship known as a “floatel” is seen at anchor in the harbour in Vancouver, on Thursday, May 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Floatel’ anchored off Nanaimo ordered to Squamish

Squamish yet to give former cruise ship-turned LNG construction crew quarters permission

 

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in May climbed 10 per cent compared with April, helped by gains in Montreal and Toronto. New homes are built in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Vancouver housing starts dip, contrary to national trend

CMHC says annual pace of national housing starts in May up 10% from April

 

Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Liberal government launches $1.5B program to build more co-op housing

The program is expected to build thousands of new homes by 2028

 

A new federal co-op program is expected to build thousands of new homes by 2028. (Jason Finn/Shutterstock)

$1.5B federal co-op housing program expected to add thousands of homes

Program touted as the largest federal investment in co-op housing in 30 years

A new federal co-op program is expected to build thousands of new homes by 2028. (Jason Finn/Shutterstock)
The Bank of Canada is seen through a bed of tulips in Ottawa on Monday, May 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Bank of Canada cuts interest rate for first time in 4 years

The Bank of Canada marked a major turning point in its fight…

The Bank of Canada is seen through a bed of tulips in Ottawa on Monday, May 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Houses are shown in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver home sales drop nearly 20 per cent in May as inventories climb

Number of Metro Vancouver homes listed for sale rose 46.3 per cent year-over-year

Houses are shown in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The B.C. government is hopeful a new online hub will help speed and streamline the building permit process and accelerate the contruction of new homes. (Pixabay photo)

Online B.C. ‘one-stop shop’ for permits expected to accelerate construction

12 municipalities and 2 First Nations participating in initial rollout of ‘unique’ system

The B.C. government is hopeful a new online hub will help speed and streamline the building permit process and accelerate the contruction of new homes. (Pixabay photo)
Rental Protection Fund CEO Katie Maslechko (from left) speaks Tuesday (May 21) as Vernon becomes the first community in B.C.’s Interior to receive funding through the provincial Rental Protection Fund. Looking on are Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu, Julia Payson, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and District Branch, Margaret Clark, head of CMHA Vernon’s restorative justice program and B.C.’s Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. (Roger Knox/Vernon Morning Star)

B.C. government announces next purchase with rental protection fund

Rental Protection Fund CEO Katie Maslechko calls loss of affordable rentals a province-wide problem

Rental Protection Fund CEO Katie Maslechko (from left) speaks Tuesday (May 21) as Vernon becomes the first community in B.C.’s Interior to receive funding through the provincial Rental Protection Fund. Looking on are Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu, Julia Payson, executive director of Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon and District Branch, Margaret Clark, head of CMHA Vernon’s restorative justice program and B.C.’s Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. (Roger Knox/Vernon Morning Star)
Ravi Kahlon in Langley in April to speak about short term rentals. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

No need for new Brookswood plans: Housing Minister

Kahlon says no more major changes on housing in near future

Ravi Kahlon in Langley in April to speak about short term rentals. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Construction workers with lifts at the site of the 330-unit Inspire condominium development in downtown Maple Ridge. New figures from Statistics Canada show the value of residential building permits in B.C. dropped by 12.2 per cent in March 2024 compared to February 2024. Compared to March 2023, the value of residential permits dropped by 14.3 per cent. (Neil Corbett/The News)

B.C.’s housing permit drop ‘not encouraging,’ says expert

Volume and value down as municipalities are struggling to meet provincially set housing targets

Construction workers with lifts at the site of the 330-unit Inspire condominium development in downtown Maple Ridge. New figures from Statistics Canada show the value of residential building permits in B.C. dropped by 12.2 per cent in March 2024 compared to February 2024. Compared to March 2023, the value of residential permits dropped by 14.3 per cent. (Neil Corbett/The News)
Victoria completed more housing units in the past six-months than it needed to in year-one of a five-year provincial housing target timeline, but other three other municipalities have fallen short. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Missed housing goals proving the need for legislation: B.C. minister

3 out of 4 B.C. municipalities subject to new housing targets failed to meet their goals

Victoria completed more housing units in the past six-months than it needed to in year-one of a five-year provincial housing target timeline, but other three other municipalities have fallen short. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
British Columbians took out the least new mortgages in 2023, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s latest survey of mortgage holders. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)

B.C. residents paying more for mortgages while taking out fewer of them

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Equifax Canada reports find B.C. residents struggling

British Columbians took out the least new mortgages in 2023, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s latest survey of mortgage holders. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick)
B.C. has the country’s highest rate of adults co-owning a home with their parents – and immigrant parents are more likely to co-own properties with their adult children, a new report from Statistics Canada showed (Pixabay)

Adults more likely to co-own homes with their parents in B.C. than elsewhere

Co-ownership also more likely among immigrant families, Statistics Canada says

B.C. has the country’s highest rate of adults co-owning a home with their parents – and immigrant parents are more likely to co-own properties with their adult children, a new report from Statistics Canada showed (Pixabay)
Government is promising better protection for owners of mobile homes in manufactured home parks like this one in Lac La Hache through changes to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. The changes come six years after a task force had first recommended them. (Google image)

B.C. adopting recommended mobile home-owner protections, 6 years later

Changes to regulations of Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act promise to curb evictions

Government is promising better protection for owners of mobile homes in manufactured home parks like this one in Lac La Hache through changes to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act. The changes come six years after a task force had first recommended them. (Google image)
Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. located in Victoria fears new short-term rental regulations will have a negative impact on tourism in Greater Victoria, may be not immediately, but next summer, when tourists stop coming to Victoria in the absence of affordable accommodations. (Mark Page/News Staff)

New short-term rental rules will hurt tourism: B.C. business owner

New provincial rules restricting short-term rentals to principal residence now in effect

Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. located in Victoria fears new short-term rental regulations will have a negative impact on tourism in Greater Victoria, may be not immediately, but next summer, when tourists stop coming to Victoria in the absence of affordable accommodations. (Mark Page/News Staff)
New housing starts are expected to slow down in Greater Vancouver, Greater Victoria in 2024 before rebounding in 2025, 2026, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

B.C. homebuilding going to drop off before rebounding next year: CMHC

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also expects vacancies to remain low and rents high

New housing starts are expected to slow down in Greater Vancouver, Greater Victoria in 2024 before rebounding in 2025, 2026, according to a new report from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon listens as Premier David Eby Monday (April 29) announces eight new B.C. Builds sites across B.C. including three in the Township of Langley. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)

B.C. announces 8 new Build B.C. housing sites across the province

Sites awaiting affordable housing development located across B.C. including Kelowna and Kamloops

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon listens as Premier David Eby Monday (April 29) announces eight new B.C. Builds sites across B.C. including three in the Township of Langley. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance-Times)
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country’s smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right. An aerial view of houses in Oshawa, Ont., is shown on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit

Housing advocate urged every province to adopt legislation recognizing housing as a human right

As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country’s smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right. An aerial view of houses in Oshawa, Ont., is shown on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg
Surrey, which has significant growth in recent years around but not just transit hubs like the King George Skytrain station, finds itself among 20 communities targeted for additional housing. Other notable communities on the list include Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George.(Photo: translink.ca/kinggeorgeclosure)

Surrey, Kelowna, Prince George added to B.C.’s housing target hit list

Multiple communities in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island are also on list

Surrey, which has significant growth in recent years around but not just transit hubs like the King George Skytrain station, finds itself among 20 communities targeted for additional housing. Other notable communities on the list include Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George.(Photo: translink.ca/kinggeorgeclosure)
Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speak in Langley on Thursday, April 18, 2024, to discuss incoming short-term rental rules. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

As short-term rental rules loom, B.C. communities opting in and out

B.C. Premier, Housing Minister issue reminder about new rules designed to create more rental housing

Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speak in Langley on Thursday, April 18, 2024, to discuss incoming short-term rental rules. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)