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The 3522 Porter St development provided rental housing units under the Short Term Incentives for Rental housing program

Creating and protecting market rental housing

Rental housing is important to meet the needs of a diverse population and is vital to a healthy economy. It also allows moderate-income households to stay in the City because household incomes of renters are typically half that of owners.

Vancouver has the tightest rental market and one of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada, which over the last three years has averaged 0.9 per cent.

With a growing population, limited increases in income, and a limited supply of new, purpose-built rental housing in recent decades, the need for rental housing has grown significantly.

Whats Happening

Take our online survey

We're currently reviewing our rental incentive programs and are seeking your input. Your feedback will help inform future policy and be summarized as part of a report going to Council in fall 2019. The survey will be open until September 30.

Take the survey

We want to hear your thoughts on the future of rental housing

Come to one of our upcoming open houses.

September 25, 4pm to 7pm
Kitsilano Neighborhood House, 2305 West 7th Ave

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September 26, 4pm to 7pm
Polish Community Centre, 4015 Fraser St, Vancouver

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Review of rental incentive programs

We're currently reviewing our existing market rental incentive programs (including Rental 100 and the Affordable Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy).

The review is being completed in two phases and will explore the effectiveness of our programs in delivering new housing to meet the needs of current and future renters. Findings from the review will help inform changes to policy to be recommended to Council in late fall.

Phase I (August 2018 to July 2019) complete

Phase I of the review examined the performance City’s rental incentive policies over the past decade and how current market conditions for developing rental housing. Through this work, key issues and opportunities for improvement were identified.

On July 24, 2019, staff presented an update on the initial results of the first phase of the review to Council, including results from two consultant reports.

CitySpaces Consulting was engaged to document and review the results of our rental incentive programs, which were first introduced in 2009, as well as the Phase I consultation activities.

Coriolis Consulting Corp. was engaged to analyze the financial performance of market rental development and the effectiveness of existing City incentives, and to test potential policy changes.

​Phase II - in progress

Phase II of the rental incentive programs review is currently underway. Staff are exploring ideas to improve our current rental incentive policies and to help inform recommendations for policy changes, we are engaging the public and key stakeholders.

To get involved and to help shape potential policy directions join us at one of our open houses or fill out our online survey.

Questions?

housingpolicy@vancouver.ca

Rental programs

We use the following programs and strategies to protect and increase the number of market rental homes in Vancouver.

In each section:

  • Learn how each program works
  • Apply to create housing through these programs
  • Get resources and forms