Housing

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

 

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

 

Jan Frederik Ludvik inside the pub area that will be available to be leased if someone wants to operate it as a pub again. (Photo by Don Bodger)

New owners of historic Island hotel creating housing units in major renovation

Former Green Lantern pub area could be made available for lease

 

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)
Hatley Apartments, a 48-unit apartment building in Colwood, BC is held in the Alitis Private REIT. This property is 100 per cent owned by Alitis and is classified as 100 per cent affordable housing.

Win-win: Funding quality housing fills social need + diversifies investment portfolios

Vancouver Island Real Estate Strategist shares the many benefits of a well-managed REIT

  • May 15, 2023
Hatley Apartments, a 48-unit apartment building in Colwood, BC is held in the Alitis Private REIT. This property is 100 per cent owned by Alitis and is classified as 100 per cent affordable housing.
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
John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Federal NDP want non-profits funded so they can buy and rent out apartments

New Democrats visit Nanaimo to lobby federal government to ‘get back into housing’

John Horn, executive director of Connective, shows Lisa Marie Barron, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP, a newly opened seniors independent living building on Labieux Road near Diver Lake on April 13. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
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
A new home is shown for sale in a housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Average home price to end the year 4.8% lower than 2022, will rise 4.7% in 2024: CREA

Forecast also sees the number of homes sold to be down slightly this year compared to last

A new home is shown for sale in a housing development in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Comox Valley Transition Society executive director Heather Ney (holding scissors), Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon (to her right) Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells and Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard are joined by city councillors in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Darry’s Place. Photo by Terry Farrell

New second-stage housing community opens in Courtenay

Local dignitaries gathered for the official ribbon-cutting at Darry’s Place, the new…

Comox Valley Transition Society executive director Heather Ney (holding scissors), Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon (to her right) Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells and Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard are joined by city councillors in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for Darry’s Place. Photo by Terry Farrell
Premier David Eby’s Homes for People plan announced Monday is getting a range of reactions, with some calling it ambitious while others say it lacks details and is deceptive. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. government’s new housing plan ‘ambitious’ but critics call for clarity

Plan promises to no leave ‘no stone unturned’ in creating more housing

Premier David Eby’s Homes for People plan announced Monday is getting a range of reactions, with some calling it ambitious while others say it lacks details and is deceptive. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
(Black Press file photo).

LETTER – Homelessness is not a lifestyle anyone chooses

Dear editor, Re:Stolen bike at safety meeting symbolic of growing downtown Courtenay…

  • Apr 5, 2023
(Black Press file photo).
A Victoria tenant will be compensated more than $30,000 due to a prolonged building renovation that included a “loss of quiet enjoyment” due to noise from a jackhammer and exposure to asbestos. (Pexels photo illustration)

Asbestos exposure and ‘horrendous’ jackhammer noise mean $30K award for B.C. tenant

Building’s owner challenged Residential Tenancy Branch decision in court and lost

A Victoria tenant will be compensated more than $30,000 due to a prolonged building renovation that included a “loss of quiet enjoyment” due to noise from a jackhammer and exposure to asbestos. (Pexels photo illustration)