BC Rental Project - Sign our petition for more rental options in BC

In BC, our vacancy rate is dangerously low – something that has become a chronic condition. We are calling on the BC Provincial Government to act now in providing more rental options.

Sign our petition for more rental options
in British Columbia

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Hello Sir or Madam, I am signing this petition and sending this message to the BC government because token measures toward addressing chronic issues with rental housing supply are not working. Our vacancy rate is less than 1% and it is driving up rents. Without more rental units built, this rental crisis cannot be solved. We are asking that the BC government immediately implement policies that incentivize the creation of new rental housing and allow existing rental operators to efficiently manage and repair our existing and aging rental housing stock. These provincial actions should include PST and Property Tax rebates for the construction of new rentals, and exempting all development lands slated for housing from the increased School Tax and increased 5% PTT; all done with the urgent goal of achieving a target three percent vacancy rate. A huge lack of rental units in the Lower Mainland is driving down vacancy and increasing rents. We are getting priced out of our own homes because there are not enough rental options available. We don’t have enough options today largely because municipalities have taken years to approve development of desperately needed homes. It is frustrating and nearly impossible to find a new place to rent. Moreover, the condition of the existing rental housing stock is not keeping pace with the expectations of renters. Too often the buildings are old, in need of upgrades (elevators, windows, plumbing etc.), and are lacking in modern conveniences. These buildings need to be renewed while ensuring existing tenants are treated fairly in the process. We need more choice. For every 100 rental units, on average less than 1 is actually available. Any measures that make it harder to build new rental buildings will only decrease rental home options and increase the unhealthy tension between landlords and renters. Municipalities need to prioritize and expedite rental housing development applications because we need more rental options today. In the midst of the current housing crisis, rental options are critically important to the people of BC. This government needs to stop policies that make the affordability of and access to rental housing worse and work to establish a robust set of incentives to urgently boost the building of more rental homes. Thank you,
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Illustration Average Greater Vancouver vacancy rate of rental

Average Greater Vancouver vacancy rate of rental apartments in 2018

1.0^%

Illustration Average age of purpose-built rental

Average age, and getting older, of purpose-built rental apartments

Illustration Total number of rental apartment buildings

Total number of rental apartment buildings in Greater Vancouver

3,250

	Proposed Units (buildings)	Approved Units (buildings)	Under Construction Units (buildings)	Completed Units (buildings)	Cancelled Units (buildings)
Suburbs	6,035 (45)	1,098 (13)	2,847 (20)	528 (3)	0 (0)
Vancouver	1,703 (32)	2,582 (37)	3,031 (30)	737 (8)	703 (2)
Total	7,738 (77)	3,680 (50)	5,878 (50)	1,265 (11)	703 (2)
	Projected occupancy 2020-2022	Projected occupancy 2019-2021	Projected occupancy 2018-2020	Occupancy 2018

BC’s needed rental
unit deficit:112,735 units

Sign our petition for more rental options
in British Columbia

Average Greater Vancouver vacancy rate of rental apartments in 2018

Average age, and getting older, of purpose-built rental apartments

Total number of rental apartment buildings in Greater Vancouver

Rental Rates have increased significantly in the last five years

Not enough rental being built

*Average rate of monthly rent for one bedrooms in Greater Vancouver for 2018

BC’s needed rental unit deficit:112,735 units

Sign our petition for more rental options in British Columbia

Average Greater Vancouver vacancy rate of rental apartments in 2018

Average age, and getting older, of purpose-built rental apartments

Total number of rental apartment buildings in Greater Vancouver

Rental Rates have increased significantly in the last five years

Not enough rental being built

*Average rate of monthly rent for one bedrooms in Greater Vancouver for 2018

BC’s needed rental
unit deficit:112,735 units

Sign our petition for more rental options
in British Columbia