British Columbia continues to grapple with rental housing challenges, prompting Rentals.ca to survey renters across the province to hear directly from them. 

 

The survey asked critical questions regarding the biggest issues facing renters, policies that could improve the market, and what respondents hope to see in the upcoming British Columbia general election.

 

Let’s dive into the key questions and responses that shed light on the current rental landscape in BC, and what could affect upcoming voter trends. 

 

The Biggest Issues Facing BC’s Rental Market

 

When asked, “What do you think is the biggest issue with the rental market in BC?”, respondents overwhelmingly pointed to high rental prices as the top concern. Here’s how the answers broke down:

 

  • 68% of respondents cited high rental prices as the most significant issue.
  • 11% pointed to the limited supply of rental housing as a pressing concern.
  • Only 3% felt that tenant protections were the biggest problem.
  • 2% each indicated that poor living conditions and the impact of rising interest rates were significant concerns.
  • Lastly, 12% had other issues, which included a variety of factors mentioned in the “Other” category. These included interest rates, immigration numbers, and high demand that made it difficult to even see the property when it was listed. 

 

Policy Solutions: What’s Needed to Improve BC’s Rental Market?

 

When it comes to government intervention, the survey revealed a strong desire for action to address the rental crisis. 81% of all respondents said that housing policies would play a major role in choosing who to vote for. The following question asked: “Which policy area do you think candidates should focus on the most regarding rental housing?” Here’s how people responded:

 

  • Affordable housing options for low-income renters led all responses, with 30% of those surveyed agreeing. 
  • 23% of respondents believe that the government should focus on encouraging and incentivizing more rental housing developments. 
  • 16% of respondents think the government should enforce stronger rent control laws.
  • 5% of respondents want an expansion of tenant rights and protections. 

 

Many of the open-ended responses simply stated “all of the above,” suggesting that the housing crisis will need a multifaceted approach to solving it. Open-ended responses also urged development policies to increase the speed of building, along with legislation to reduce the amount of empty homes bought through foreign investment. 

 

Respondents’ Expectations of the Government 

 

We also explored how British Columbians felt about the new Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, aiming to return rental units to the long-term housing market and provide local governments with stronger tools to regulate short-term rentals. Responses were mixed, with only 35% of respondents agreeing that they support the act. 11% of respondents said they do not support the act, with 23% of respondents being unsure, and needed more information. 

 

Voting Preferences

 

Finally, we asked respondents to say how they plan on voting in the upcoming British Columbia general election. The breakdown of responses was as follows:

 

  • 37% of respondents are undecided.
  • 25% Conservative Party of BC.
  • 21% New Democratic Party.
  • 3% do not plan on voting. 

 

The survey results highlight the main concerns facing BC’s rental housing market—high rental prices and limited housing supply. There’s also a clear demand for government action, with a majority calling for increased affordable housing and an increase in supply. 

 

As British Columbia moves forward, addressing these key concerns will be essential to ensuring a healthy and balanced rental market. By listening to the voices of both renters and landlords, policymakers can craft solutions that reflect the needs of the entire housing ecosystem. The insights gathered from this poll, and future Rentals.ca polls will serve as a valuable tool in understanding and addressing the challenges facing the rental market today.