Housing

May 16, 2023 - Chiara Sulyok from Alair Homes photographed for S & L for BLVD CI at Pipers lagoon park in Nanaimo.. Don Denton photo

Secrets and Lives with Chiara Sulyok

“You should never put limits on your dreams.”

  • Jul 3, 2023
May 16, 2023 - Chiara Sulyok from Alair Homes photographed for S & L for BLVD CI at Pipers lagoon park in Nanaimo.. Don Denton photo
Premier David Eby said a new fund will be able to leverage more than $500 million to protect rental housing in British Columbia. (Black Press Media file photo)

New $500M rental protection fund officially launches in B.C.

Premier David Eby said fund will be able to leverage more than its initial sum

Premier David Eby said a new fund will be able to leverage more than $500 million to protect rental housing in British Columbia. (Black Press Media file photo)
A construction worker works on a house in a new housing development in Oakville, Ont., Friday, April 29. 2011. Calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government to address Canada’s housing crisis are growing as affordability deteriorates and the country risks falling even further behind on building more homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan

Politicians point fingers on Canada’s housing crisis

But there are calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government

A construction worker works on a house in a new housing development in Oakville, Ont., Friday, April 29. 2011. Calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government to address Canada’s housing crisis are growing as affordability deteriorates and the country risks falling even further behind on building more homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan
B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen in April, says his government stands with British Columbians struggling with housing affordability after figures show rents rose 30 per cent in B.C. between 2016 and 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. leads Canada as average rents skyrocket 30 per cent in five years

Premier David Eby says government is turning over ‘every rock’ to build more housing in B.C.

B.C. Premier David Eby, here seen in April, says his government stands with British Columbians struggling with housing affordability after figures show rents rose 30 per cent in B.C. between 2016 and 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The Jackpine site at 4400 Mackenzie Avenue North in Williams Lake as seen June 8, 2023. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

B.C. promises up to $10M to mass timber company eyeing Williams Lake

Massive Canada is planning to operate in the former Jackpine site on Mackenzie Avenue

The Jackpine site at 4400 Mackenzie Avenue North in Williams Lake as seen June 8, 2023. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
CMHC chief economist Bob Dugan poses for a photograph, in Toronto, Friday, June 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Housing affordability crisis requires ‘all hands on deck’ response: CMHC

The annual pace of housing starts dropped 23% in May compared with April

CMHC chief economist Bob Dugan poses for a photograph, in Toronto, Friday, June 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon (middle) announces plans for the Lonzo Road homeless camp in Abbotsford on Tuesday morning (June 13) outside Abbotsford city hall. He is joined by Abbotsford-Mission MLA Pam Alexis and Mayor Ross Siemens. Kahlon also used the occasion to announce Abbotsford as the first of five communities where specialized regional teams will step into action when homeless camps spring up. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

Abbotsford first B.C. city to roll out rapid response teams to homeless camps

Four other communities will be announced later this fall under new provincial initiative

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon (middle) announces plans for the Lonzo Road homeless camp in Abbotsford on Tuesday morning (June 13) outside Abbotsford city hall. He is joined by Abbotsford-Mission MLA Pam Alexis and Mayor Ross Siemens. Kahlon also used the occasion to announce Abbotsford as the first of five communities where specialized regional teams will step into action when homeless camps spring up. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
Westpoint house - Lia Crowe photo

Heaven on the hilltop

Peace, quiet and the ultimate in luxury living at this Woodland Hills home

  • Jun 12, 2023
Westpoint house - Lia Crowe photo
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon has announced Vancouver and Victoria among the 10 inaugural communities subject to new housing targets. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. hands down first set of housing targets to 10 communities

Kamloops, Greater Victoria, Abbotsford and parts of Lower Mainland on list

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon has announced Vancouver and Victoria among the 10 inaugural communities subject to new housing targets. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)
Katie Maslechko will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Rental Protection Fund designed to protect the affordability of existing rental buildings. (Photo courtesy of BC Non-Profit Housing Association)

B.C. rental protection fund worth $500M anticipates start in late June

New CEO Katie Maslechko sees fund having ‘ripple effect’ on community housing

Katie Maslechko will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Rental Protection Fund designed to protect the affordability of existing rental buildings. (Photo courtesy of BC Non-Profit Housing Association)
A new report praises aspects of government's new Homes for People plan but also calls it a "work in progress" with key details yet to be announced. (File photo)

Report praises aspects of B.C.’s new housing plan, but it remains a ‘work in progress’

Report calls on government to step up support for non-market housing

A new report praises aspects of government's new Homes for People plan but also calls it a "work in progress" with key details yet to be announced. (File photo)
A lack of pet-friendly housing tends to be the No. 1 reason why people surrender adult animals to shelters, according to the BC SPCA. (Brenda Anderson photo)

Finding pet-friendly rental housing more problematic than ever in B.C.

‘The No. 1 reason for surrender of adult animals to our shelters is lack of pet-friendly housing’

A lack of pet-friendly housing tends to be the No. 1 reason why people surrender adult animals to shelters, according to the BC SPCA. (Brenda Anderson photo)
B.C. led Canada in evictions, according to 2021 Canadian Housing Survey. Some 10.5 per cent of renting households in British Columbia told CHS that their landlords forced them to move between April 2016 to early 2021, compared to 5.9 per cent nationally. In Vancouver, the figure was higher at 10.6 per cent. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Highest housing prices, rents in Canada create ‘incentives’ for evictions in B.C.

UBC study finds B.C. leads Canada in evictions because of high number of no-fault evictions

B.C. led Canada in evictions, according to 2021 Canadian Housing Survey. Some 10.5 per cent of renting households in British Columbia told CHS that their landlords forced them to move between April 2016 to early 2021, compared to 5.9 per cent nationally. In Vancouver, the figure was higher at 10.6 per cent. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Chris Churchill, President of First Service Residential, the largest management property company, is calling for tougher rules around depreciation reports for stratas. Depreciation reports project costs for maintenance, repair and replacement of common property and assets. (Black Press Media file photo)

Strata loophole needs to be closed to fix rising insurance rates: B.C. property management expert

Depreciation reports must be renewed every 3 years, but stratas can defer indefinitely leading to potential problems

Chris Churchill, President of First Service Residential, the largest management property company, is calling for tougher rules around depreciation reports for stratas. Depreciation reports project costs for maintenance, repair and replacement of common property and assets. (Black Press Media file photo)
Housing in B.C. would become more affordable if governments were to charge a small annual property surtax of between 0.2 and one per cent on homes valued over $1 million. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tax shelter fuels ‘cultural addiction’ to high and rising home prices: advocate

Generation Squeeze founder Paul Kershaw calls for small surtax on homes valued over $1 million

Housing in B.C. would become more affordable if governments were to charge a small annual property surtax of between 0.2 and one per cent on homes valued over $1 million. (Black Press Media file photo)
The provincial government closed several loopholes involving children in 55-plus stratas. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. government closes loopholes around children in 55-plus strata buildings

BC United MLA says government was architect of its own mistakes

The provincial government closed several loopholes involving children in 55-plus stratas. (Black Press Media file photo)
Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist of the BC Real Estate Association, spoke at the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference in Vernon Thursday, April 27, 2023, about the path to recovery in the housing market. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Economist describes highs and lows of path to B.C. housing recovery at SILGA

Brendon Ogmundson explains the factors affecting the B.C., Okanagan housing markets

Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist of the BC Real Estate Association, spoke at the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference in Vernon Thursday, April 27, 2023, about the path to recovery in the housing market. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Mountains loom behind homes under construction in Canmore, Alta., Monday, April 24, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Average home price will not revert to pre-pandemic levels this year: CMHC

Prices expected to bottom out this quarter before starting to rise again

Mountains loom behind homes under construction in Canmore, Alta., Monday, April 24, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy said she is glad to see inflation go down, adding government remains in discussion with Ottawa about housing.

Inflation trending down in B.C., but housing costs up thanks to rising interest on mortgages

The Bank of Canada is holding the interest rate at 4.5%

Minister of Finance Katrine Conroy said she is glad to see inflation go down, adding government remains in discussion with Ottawa about housing.
A dentist works on a patient on Monday, July 26, 2021, in San Juan, Texas. The federal housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had “atrocious” take-up, a new report says, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians potentially missing out on the benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP

Thousands of Canadians missed out on federal housing and dental benefits: report

‘Atrocious’ take-up sees about half of all those eligible taking advantage

A dentist works on a patient on Monday, July 26, 2021, in San Juan, Texas. The federal housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had “atrocious” take-up, a new report says, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians potentially missing out on the benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP