Secondary Suites Becoming a Staple in B.C.

  • 9 years ago

Secondary suites most common in B.C., says study
Study examined 4,000 homeowners in Canada’s five most western provinces
CBC News Posted: Aug 25, 2015 7:32 AM PT Last Updated: Aug 25, 2015 8:29 AM PT

Laneway houses have become a popular option for secondary suites in Vancouver. (Smallworks)

A study conducted by a Vancouver-based insurance company shows that homeowners in British Columbia have the highest percentage of secondary suites west of Ontario, with Vancouver owners leading the pack.
“B.C. is the highest across all of the provinces at 25 per cent,” said Daniel Mirkovic, president of Square One Insurance.
“In Vancouver, it can creep up as high as 40 percent of people who have a detached home have a basement suite or some type of suite that they are renting to others.”
The study conducted by Square One Insurance examined 4,000 of its home insurance policy holders in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C.
On average, 14 per cent of the company’s policy holders had secondary suites, compared with 43 per cent in Vancouver.
“Probably the number one reason is to help them fund their mortgage with the high cost of real estate,” said Mirkovic.
“Other people simply have unneeded space and see this as a good way to make extra income as well.”
This may not come as a surprise to Vancouverites, who are living in one of the hottest real estate markets in Canada.
• Vancouver real estate market hottest on record, despite recession fears
• #Donthave1Million protesters rally against high cost of housing
• Vancouver real estate prices pushing millennials to leave city: report
The study found that only five per cent of its policy holders in the Prairies rent out a portion of their homes to non-family members.
The company also said that those numbers may be lower than the actual percentage because people may be reluctant to disclose illegal suites that don’t have a permit from the city.
It also encourages homeowners with secondary suites to ensure they have the proper policy in place so their property is adequately covered.
Secondary suites encouraged in Vancouver
The City of Vancouver has long advocated for secondary suites as astrategy to increase density and provide more rental housing.

Although they were originally seen as a nuisance and discouraged, rules in Vancouver around secondary suites began to soften in the 80s. In 2004, all sign-family areas were rezoned to allow secondary suites.

In Calgary, councillors recently rejected a plan to make it easier for homeowners to have secondary suites in a handful of Calgary wards.

A patchwork of policies also exists across the country for laneway homes, an increasingly popular type of secondary suite in Vancouver.

Laneway houses are not universally embraced by civic governments and neighbourhoods across Canada due to fears of increased density, lack of parking, and other concerns.

For more information on how https://orcarealty.ca can help you about Secondary Suites Becoming a Staple in B.C., please contact us at 604.921.6722, or visit us here:

Orca Realty Inc.

Unit 204 – 2438 Marine Dr. West Vancouver, BC, V7V 1L2 Canada

Vancouver office: Unit 302 – 2309 West 41st Ave – Vancouver, BC, V6M 2A3 Canada

604.921.6722

Looking for Tenant

 

Secondary Suites Becoming a Staple in B.C.

Orca Realty is a full service rental property management company you can trust to handle all of your property management needs.

Our values of dedication, integrity and commitment embody the Orca Realty philosophy and through personalized service, meticulous attention to detail, and the highest ethical standards, we provide professional, cost effective management services for all types of residential properties.

 

Compare listings

Compare