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Legalizing Secondary Suites
The Issue
In 2011, Greater Victoria continues to have one of the lowest rental accommodation vacancy rates in Canada which produces significant challenges for people seeking affordable accommodation. Secondary suites, although illegal in many communities, are felt to offer one option to increase the supply of affordable housing.
VREB Position
The VREB Board of Directors in May, 2006 voted "to support local governments that are looking for ways to create additional housing opportunities, such as legalizing secondary suites".
The stated position by both the Canadian Real Estate Association and the British Columbia Real Estate Association is that suites benefit communities by:
- Enabling first-time buyers to more easily afford mortgage payments by providing another source of revenue;
- Allowing seniors to age in place;
- Assisting low income renters;
- Providing housing that is respectful of various cultures and household compositions;
- Making better use of existing housing stock, while providing an alternative to the development of farmland and green space.
Update
With the decision taken by City of Victoria on June 14, 2007 to legalize secondary suites in R1-A & R1-B zones throughout the City, eight of 13 municipalities throughout Greater Victoria allowed secondary suites within their jurisdictions (subject to certain restrictions imposed by individual municipalities). These included Victoria, View Royal, Central Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Metchosin, Colwood and Sooke. In June of 2010 the District of Saanich became the next jurisdiction to allow secondary suites within the municipal boundaries by establishing a pilot zone south of McKenzie Avenue. The VREB Government Liaison Committee has since recommended to Saanich that the municipality should now give preference to allowing legalized secondary suites in the Gordon Head neighbourhood.
Ratification
Position ratified by the VREB Directors, January 2011.
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