The exterior of Hotel Strathcona and the surrounding buildings

SRA Vacancy Control Policy

The amendments to the License By-law that authorized SRA Vacancy Control were struck down by the BC Supreme Court on August 3, 2022.

We're disappointed with the decision and have filed an appeal. In the meantime, the amendments are not enforceable. 

The contents of this page are for informational purposes only.

What you need to know

The Vacancy Control Policy limits rent increases in SRA-designated buildings between tenancies.

The regulations aim to:

  • Slow speculative investment and rapidly rising rents in SRO buildings
  • Prevent tenant displacement

Find the current inflation rate

The Province updates the inflation rate  on the third week of every month.

The latest inflation rate for Vancouver is 4.9% (released July 20, 2022).

Often the last resort before homelessness, Single Room Accommodation (SRA) rooms in the Downtown Eastside and downtown core provide affordable accommodation for people who have very low incomes and face significant barriers to securing housing in Vancouver. 

The housing affordability crisis and low vacancy rate in the city creates an incentive for owners and operators to maximize revenue potential in SRA buildings by displacing existing, low-income tenants, and significantly escalating rents at turnover. This trend has been well-documented and has created housing instability and homelessness amongst the city’s lowest-income residents. 

The Vacancy Control Policy limits rent increases in SRA-designated buildings between tenancies.

Key parts of the policy

Regulation

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