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

 

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 developer is hoping to build a mix of commercial and residential properties at 1075 Prosperity Way in Williams Lake. (City of Williams Lake image)

Developer eyes Prosperity Way area in Williams Lake for commercial, residential development

City council gives first reading to zoning and official community plan amendments

A developer is hoping to build a mix of commercial and residential properties at 1075 Prosperity Way in Williams Lake. (City of Williams Lake image)
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)
Mary Tenale is enjoying her new home at Tl’esqox First Nation thanks to a community-led initiative to create more housing for community members. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Tsilhqo’tin First Nation community continues to build homes for community members

Tl’esqox First Nation west of Williams Lake is adding another four homes, 26 units already in place

Mary Tenale is enjoying her new home at Tl’esqox First Nation thanks to a community-led initiative to create more housing for community members. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
This image provided by Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average, is an example of an Accessory Dwelling Unit, a small home separate from a main house. Proponents say ADUs are a low-impact, energy-efficient way to create more living space. (Eric Staudenmaier Photography for Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average via AP)

Williams Lake adopts accessory dwelling bylaw

Resident Kevin Friesen plans to build a small home for his mom on his city property

This image provided by Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average, is an example of an Accessory Dwelling Unit, a small home separate from a main house. Proponents say ADUs are a low-impact, energy-efficient way to create more living space. (Eric Staudenmaier Photography for Bigger Than Tiny, Smaller Than Average via AP)
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
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
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)
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)
Houses and townhouses are seen in an aerial view in Langley, B.C. A new plan announced Monday promises to create more density in areas currently zoned single-residential. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. unveils new ‘Homes for People’ plan with goal of 108K new houses, apartment units

Homes for People plan calls for more density, legalization of secondary suites and flipping tax

Houses and townhouses are seen in an aerial view in Langley, B.C. A new plan announced Monday promises to create more density in areas currently zoned single-residential. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Doreen Koch, 92, of Lumby, who has spent over $100,000 in legal fees fighting for the right to own her property after her son signed a contract to sell the property before dying of liver failure in 2020. (GoFundMe photo)

B.C. senior in legal battle over property

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Doreen Koch, 92, to help her pay her lawyer bills

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Doreen Koch, 92, of Lumby, who has spent over $100,000 in legal fees fighting for the right to own her property after her son signed a contract to sell the property before dying of liver failure in 2020. (GoFundMe photo)