SRA (SRO hotels) Vacancy Control Policy

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  About the policy

  The Vacancy Control Policy PDF file (559 KB) restricts rent increases in privately and non-profit owned SRO hotels between tenancies. In private SROs, loss of affordability for low-income residents continues to be a key challenge. 

  • Private SRO rooms are no longer affordable to those on income assistance.
  • At least 60% of residents living in private SROs are spending in excess of 50% of their income on housing.
  • Average rents in private SRO stock have increased by 73% since 2003 (2021).

  Vacancy control regulations aim to:

  • Restrict how much rent a landlord can charge a new tenant when they move in
  • Slow speculative investment and rapidly rising rents in SRO buildings 
  • Prevent tenant displacement

  This is different from the Residential Tenancy Act External website, opens in new tab, which restricts how much rent a landlord can raise the rent External website, opens in new tab during a tenancy (rent control).

  Certain buildings were designated as Single Room Accommodation (SRA) by the City in 2003. Learn more about these buildings and find out locations

For SRO tenants

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  Tenant self-reporting survey

  As part of the SRA Vacancy Control Policy, we’re asking for your monthly rent amount. This will help confirm the rents reported by landlords for the annual rent roll.

  Provide this information by completing the tenant self-reporting survey or submitting your rent details by:

  • Email: vacancycontrol@vancouver.ca
  • Phone: 604-829-9275
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  Average monthly rent for privately-owned SROs

  As of November 2024, the average monthly rent for privately-owned SROs is $681 per month. This includes information from privately-owned and operated units, those privately owned but operated by a non-profit, and buildings owned by Chinese Benevolent Societies.

  Average rents in the private SRO sector have risen by 21% since 2019, reaching $681 in 2024.

For SRO property owners

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  How to submit rent rolls

  The next annual rent roll collection is January 31, 2026. We will contact properties owners for their rent roll submissions, and how to submit 2026 rent rolls.

  Contact the Vacancy Control program if you have any questions.

  Find the current inflation rate

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  Find out how much rent can be increased

  Review the "How much can rent increase between tenancies: flow chart PDF file (103 KB)" to determine how much rent can be raised under the Vacancy Control Policy.

Key parts of the policy

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  Restricting the allowable rent increase between tenancies

  • For rooms renting at or above $500 per month:
    • Rent can only be increased at tenancy turnover by the current inflation rate in Vancouver 
  • For rooms renting at or below $499 per month:
    •  Rent can be increased at tenancy turnover by the current inflation rate in Vancouver plus 5% or to $500, whichever is higher. 

  If a room was renting at $350 per month, on or after March 11, 2025, the maximum new rent allowed would be $500 per month to be in compliance.  

  If a room was renting at $475 per month, on or after March 11, 2025, the maximum new rent allowed would be $510.63 per month to be in compliance (5% plus inflation rate for Vancouver, 2.5% as of March 18, 2025).

  If a room was renting at $550 per month, the maximum new rent allowed would be $550 plus inflation (2.5% as of March 18, 2025). The maximum rent allowed would be $563.75 per month to be in compliance. 

  Important note Where a rent increase results in a new rent that exceeds $500, the allowable rent increase is capped at $500 + inflation rate.

  Important note Tenancies continue to be subject to the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) and any rent increases during tenancies must be in compliance with RTA regulations.

  Find the current inflation rate

  The Province updates the inflation rate External website, opens in new tab on the third week of every month.

  The latest inflation rate for Vancouver is 2.5% (March 18, 2025).

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  Allowing the potential for additional rent relaxation to support critical capital investments and extraordinary operating costs

  Owners of SRO buildings (many which are older and in need of upgrading) will be able to apply to the City for a rent relaxation between tenancies, after securing approval from the Residential Tenancy Branch to increase rents on the tenanted rooms in the building.

  Provincial regulations External website, opens in new tab clearly define the type of expenditures eligible for the additional rent increase, restrict how often landlords can apply for this increase, and outline how the increase is administered to tenants once approved.

  Landlords can use the Residential Tenancy Branch rent increase tool External website, opens in new tab to explore how capital expenditures may translate into rent increases.

  The Province lays out guidelines External website, opens in new tab for additional rent increases for capital expenditures.

  Non-profit organizations that own, lease, or operate SROs may apply for grants of $10,000 per room to complete building upgrades. Learn about the grant and apply PDF file (131 KB)

Regulation

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  Renting SRA designated rooms

  The new vacancy control regulations are applicable to all non-government owned SRA designated rooms that are rented to new tenants after May 14, 2024. SRA owners and operators are responsible for reviewing and abiding by the by-law requirements PDF file (509 KB).

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  Compliance and enforcement

  An SRO owner or operator who fails to comply with the new by-law requirements – including by charging rent above the allowed increase, by failing to submit the required rent roll information, or by submitting false or misleading information – may be subject to enforcement.

  Enforcement includes prosecution for offences under the new by-laws, convictions on which can attract liability for fines of up to $10,000 per contravention, per day.

Resources

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  Background

  On May 14, 2024, the Province passed amendments to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act (MEVA) to allow us to implement SRO vacancy control PDF file (559 KB).

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  Documents

  • SRA Vacancy Control Policy PDF file (509 KB)
  • SRA Vacancy Control - 2021 report to Council PDF file (556 KB)
  • SRA Vacancy Control - 2025 report to Council PDF file (208 KB)
  • How much can rent increase between tenancies - flow chart PDF file (104 KB)
  • Licence By-law PDF file (635 KB)
  • Licence By-law amendment (rent roll date) PDF file (92 KB)
  • Ticket Offences By-law PDF file (220 KB)