2 bedroom rents up $41 per month
Here’s a interesting tidbit: looking at craigslist you might get the impression rent in Vancouver has doubled over the last year or two with asking rents of $3400 for a one bedroom suite downtown. CMHC stats sees things differently with the average 2 bedroom rent going up over the year from $1045 to $1086 with the vacancy rate edging up .1 percent in that time.
I was at a party recently where the subject came up and was a bit staggered by some of the numbers thrown around – they were far lower than I expected. One couple was paying $850 for a 3 year old townhouse near Main street, another was paying $550 for a bachelor suite in Kits. I’m assuming these are better than average deals, but what are apartments and houses renting for in Vancouver? What is the expectation and what is the reality?
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Sarah Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I pay a bit over $1,000 for a 2 bedroom near downtown Vancouver but now that we need to find a bigger place and I’m looking at the ads in the newspaper and craigslist I can’t find anything for under $2,000. I think prices must have gone way up since I got my place four years ago.
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Jay Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
We rent a 4 bedroom home in a great east van ‘hood for 1450 plus utilities. The house would probably sell for high 700’s based on the comps in the neighbourhood. By the way, this is not a deal that we locked in many years ago, we have lived in this place for less than a year.
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CondoHype Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I’m a renter and I often discuss the topic with people I meet. Rents are all over the map in this city. The prices you describe are excellent deals and are probably not representative of what most people pay but at the same time neither are Craigslist prices, which are higher than what most people pay. I tend to hear of good prices when talking to people who’ve been renting at the same place for a long time. The “old school” landlords understand the benefits of good tenants so they’re slow to jack up the rent.
The best way to find a place is to wait until a day or two after the first of the month and walk around the neighbourhood you want to live in. I was walking around the West End in the first week of January and spotted lots of fresh for-rents signs on apartment buildings. The places weren’t great deals but they were much better than Craigslist.
I have a number of friends living downtown in either bachelor suites or one bedrooms in older buildings. Their rents range from $800-900. Another friend with a small two-bedrooom pays $1050.
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Warren Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
We pay $1000 (utils included) for a nice, clean, 3 bedrm/2bathrm ground floor suite in a nice east van area. Its a great deal, but it I’ve been here for 3 years without a rent increase, and we initially talked my landlord down to $1000 from $1100.
I think those “deals” you mention are pretty accurate for anyone who spent some time looking and has been living at their current address for a number of years.
Craigslist has wildly optimistic amateur landlords, I don’t think there’s a lot of people paying those prices, at least not for long.
That being said, I think I have a great deal. It could easily be rented for $1300 today.
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JK Smith Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
We rent a second floor 2+den in kits for $1250, we’re looking into moving on a casual basis (rather than a must-move situation) because my wife just got a new job and we’d like to be between our two workplaces. The thing I’ve noticed about craigslist is there are a lot of places listed there that have been looking for renters to pay their high price for months. If they lowered their rent to market levels they would probably rent it out and it seems like the difference would be made up by not having those months where the suite is empty with no rental income.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
I’m paying $950 for a 1bdrm. It’s a block from the beach, a block from Stanley Park and has a great view of the mountains and Chilco so I see no point whatsoever in moving.
The building’s kind of old, but the bf just moved in and with a little ingenuity our apt looks fantastic.
The monthly cost of putting a roof over my head is now $450. This weekend we’re going to pick up a small dishwasher. Between that and the 4 washer/dryers available our basic needs are met.
I figure with expenses that low I’m as close to recession proof as you can get.
NOW life’s ideal
. I’m in a fabulous city. I pay ricidulously little in rent. My place looks fantastic, and it’s ideally located. I can save heaping big amounts of money. AND I have a great partner. 
No complaints about RE or anything else here! 
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Drachenn Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Very good point JK Smith. You’re overlooking one important factor though.
The people who are advertising on Craigslist mostly purchased recently and therefore are not good at making such rational financial decisions.
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Anonymous Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Edge of Coal Harbour (Georgia and Bute) above the 30th floor facing south (with 180 degree view from solarium) 675 sq ft+ two small balconies in an 8 year old building for $1350. Moved in last July.
It does face Georgia so it’s loud.
I also agree that if you take your time ,and avoid craigslist, there are fair deals out there, before this I paid $1200 at the Lions (a block away in the west end), 16th floor, 590 sq ft, facing east but if you cranked your head left from the corner you could see north to the water.
A lot of the people who are paying higher rents won’t tell you that they have a poor credit history.
My wife and I both have average jobs and are around 30 so the rental pool must be pretty weak to have property management companies treating us like gold.
Right now there are tons of deals out there, Spectrum 1,2,3,4 have flooded the market, plus people are vacating rental units to move in to their first condo @spectrum, and vacating rentals elsewhere to rent at spectrum. With another 8 or 9,000 units coming to the market before the Olympics you have to wonder if what is really a high stakes game of musical chairs could be coming to an end.
That is presuming all of the suburbs don’t move downtown all at once to fill these newly completed buildings as tenants.
Does anyone remember when the tech boom was still in effect? Anyone who had the audacity to question whether they could go up anymore would be shunned and the rhetorical question “WHAT DO YOU THINK THE INTERNET IS GOING AWAY!??? ” would be hissed.
It seems like this is a good time to be buying tech stocks despite the “THE OLYMPICS THE OLYMPICS RICH PEOPLE FROM EVERYWHERE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF VANCOUVER WILL ALL WANT TO MOVE HERE AND PAY $10 MILLION FOR A PLACE IN WHISTLER, 1 MILLION FOR A ONE BEDROOM DOWNTOWN AND $2 MILLION FOR A HOUSE IN DUNBAR1″
Anyone who doubts that Vancouver hasn’t been discovered by other wealthy countries should take a walk down Robson and then try to identify one nation that can afford these prices who’s not already represented.
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Anonymous Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
My rental situation is almost exactly the same as Skullboy.
West of Denman 1 bedroom less that 1k.
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CondoHype Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I’ve written this before, but search Spectrum in Craigslist for real comedy. Property management firms and amateur landlords are asking around $1400/month for one-bedrooms and studios. To the casual observer, it would appear that this is the “market rate” for a new condo rental. But look closely and you’ll see that it’s the same firms and owners posting again and again.
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nero Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
My wife and I rent in Downtown, by Burrard and Smithe for $900+30 for parking. We got a pretty good deal compared to most everyone we know, but we had to scramble to get this after I first saw it on Craigslist.
As far as renting goes, people looking to rent will have to be alert and assertive, as good deals will disappear within hours. Vancouver is also facing a rental crunch, downtown apparently has some 1% vacancy and with the Olympics administraton, tourists etc coming, expect renting to
The good news for bears is that with the stock markets in freefall (all markets, Asia, Canada, Europe and US), don’t be surprised if we are at the very peak of our housing cycle. If Asian investors start to flip their condos back onto the market, it will snowball very quickly.
My personal belief is that this Epic Bull will be replaced by an Epic Bear. So, bad news for renters, but potentially good news for buyers.
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BennyLava Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
3 bed and den duplex for 1150, on the east side, with yard, parking, deck — approx 1600 sf, though an older building with some issues. We’ve been there a while. Definitely old school landlord. We keep the place up a bit and don’t bother him with trivial stuff. We just got new carpets and a new bathroom at his expense, and got to pick out what went in.
New duplexes the same size (or smaller!) in our neighbourhood are 600k, sometimes up to 700. Plus a strata fee. Frickin 3+ times our rent. No thanks.
Given the state of the markets today and last week, I think we may see a more reality based market sooner rather than later.
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Mk-Kids Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
We moved in December from a stunning waterview downtown bachelor which I’d been in 3 years & paid $1090 (500 sq feet) with parking (rent was going up to $1140 on Feb 1) to a 2 bed + den, 2 bath (1100 sq feet) also stunning view at SFU for $1650 incl parking. They wanted $1695.
We’re paying more than we’d like but found our options limited last fall, we needed bigger space but wanted to stay under $1700 – we wanted a view, quiet, insuite laundry, a dishwasher (bachelor had none of that). We love it up here but the commute for me sucks! 1 bus but it’s an hour each way door-to-door. Good thing I travel a lot & do some work from home so don’t have to commute daily.
I did take a look at MLS and found a suite identical to ours but 1 floor down listed around half a mill. I remember with 25% down, mortgage, maintenance, taxes the place would cost $3200 to own.
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sansan Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I live in a large one bed plus den in an old Shaughnessy building, paying $900. It’s a basic suite with nothing fancy (no in-suite w/d, no dishwasher), but we like the location and price enough to have stayed 3 years.
Recently the building changed hands. The new owners paid 2.1 million for it, and need to raise the rents to cover their costs. Their strategy is cosmetic: if they repaint and put in stainless steel appliances, people will pay double the rents:
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/apa/542326087.htm
Yes, you can pay $12,000 a year in rent more than I pay to use some stainless steel appliances that cost the landlord about $4000. Riiight. Currently, 3 out of the building’s 8 units are vacant, so I figure the new owners are just bleeding cash. I love it!
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
I *love* doing that…. I must be weird or something. I love dearching for the “Lyxury townhouse – style loft (what the hell is that??) that’s been steadily dropping in price in October.
I love how renters and owners in this town aren’t really speaking the same language any more:
renters : “I’m paying $xxx for my place. It’s pretty good deal and the money I save be renting can be used for something else”
Owner: “But I’m paying $2*xxx and when the Olympics comme I’ll be RICH RICH RICH!!!!”
Kind of funny really.
I had a friend working for Nortel back in the day. He wouldn’t sell his stock when it was at the top because of the tax implications.
We all know what happened. He’s kicking himself to this day that he didn’t get out while the getting was good. He felt he had all that money and it evaporated overnight.
The truth was, he had am asset that was subject to high price volatility and considerable risk, and his greed prevented him from seeing that with a cold, objective eye.
Krrsh and Dosh people like that are about to get a lesson. You place is worth the dollar amount you get the day you sell it, and not a penny more. Wait too long to sell, and… well you learn that wealthy feeling is just a feeling.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
but…but….STAINLESS STEEL!!!!!!!
I’ve never understood the appeal of the stuff, it gets fingerprinted up like no tomorrow.
I think the real winners in this bubble are the makers of stainless settl appliances and granite countertops.
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jesse Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
“My guess is tha prospective renters in Vancouver need to get in now or else move to the valley.”
It’s funny how there have been more places built than requisite population growth and still there is a rental crunch. From my experience there are always basement suites available (not just the 5 year old Vancouver special “2 bedroom” suites that would cause insanity if lived in for more than 1 week). I think people will start compressing their living arrangements as unemployment ticks up. Not that it will definitely happen in Vancouver, but San Diego and Miami saw low vacancy rates and increasing rents through the peaks in their markets. Now their rental rates are falling along with property prices.
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Drachenn Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
“You place is worth the dollar amount you get the day you sell it, and not a penny more.”
Minus closing costs (which is one thing the bulls rarely take into account).
As for Nortel I had a friend at work who’s girlfriend’s father worked for them and apparently a VP told him that it was going to be huge. He, his girlfriend and the father were all living on bread and water so they could buy stock with every possible penny. He tried to convince me to invest but I explained to him that I would NEVER invest in a company on second hand information never mind fifth hand. He thought I was crazy and told me how he was going to get rich rich rich! (actually I suppose in that way he reminds me of SATV (is that YOU Chris?)). Anyhow he got laid off before Nortel went bust so I never heard how it turned out but I imagine he lost everything, fortunately for him he was in his early ’20s so he has plenty of time to recover.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I’ll say closing costs are expensive!
I really think it’s the auxilliary people who make money on real estate transactions: Banks make tons of money, mortgage brokers make money, real estate agents make money, lawyers make money, the CMHC makes money. There’s barely anything left for the poor buyer. This I know from personal experience.
I truly think it’s the dullards in the crowd who have literally bought up the hype. YOu can always tell from the craigslist entries who has bought in, and who expects to turn around and sell the same line of crap to some renter.
Stocks, bonds etc on the other hand are MUCH cheaper to buy and sell, and you can diversify your holdings to tailor to your own risk / profit preferences. You can invest a while, then stop if you need more monthly cash flow, then invest some more.
Beware advice from the wealthy. They don’t like competition.
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Anonymous Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
There is a lot of inventory hitting.
Virtually all of it will be available for rent since the buyers have re mortgaged their own home to pay the exorbitant cost.
Prompton was accepting pets and renting 500 sq ft units for $1100 when they first started.
Note the part that says “make us an offer”
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just a little patience Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Landlords suck around here. Currently living in East Van, close to Broadway station, old, crappy building, 1br for initially 850$, only hot water included, windows are about 2mm thick, common laundry… Fairly big balcony with view on crack alley behind the building and a bit of a downtown view. The building is deteriorating, not kept very clean and still rent kept going up 4% annually.
Location itself is great, as it only takes 12 minutes to get downtown by skytrain.
We’re now moving to a nice 2br suite, away from East Van to North Van, slightly under 1200$ all included (www, hydro, heat…).
Our current shitty 1br apartment is now listed for 1000$.
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nero Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Hey “just a little patience”,
I see the same thing. My in-laws are renting their furnished sub-suite (it’s actually about 450sf on the 3rd floor of a commercial building) for $1200, and within an hour had 4 offers. It’s good times for landlords.
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Anonymous Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
It’s not a good time for landlords.
The return on equity is negative.
Landlords can ask anything they want but they’re are not getting it.
Take a look at craigslist and you’ll see the same ads posted over and over again.
There are downtown units that have been available downtown since I started looking last November (electric avenue, hudson, cielo, spectrum).
Somebody may pay $1200 for a furnished suite for one month but it’ll be vacant for the majority of the year.
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Dave Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
We paid $1050 from 2005-2007 for a 750 sq. ft. apartment near Macdonald and Broadway in Kitsilano (1 bd. + den with south facing windows). Now since 2007 we are paying $1755 (incl. utilties) for a 2 bedroom + den + dining room main floor of a house near 2nd and Macdonald in Kits (over 1000 sq. ft. for sure). Basement is a bit smaller but they pay $1200. We find these rents very reasonable.
When we looked for an apartment last year we found many overpriced places. Especially one building downtown called Firenze. All the owners there had just taken possession and were trying to rent tiny 2 bedrooms for $2000 or 1 bedrooms for $1500+.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I’ve never been able to figure out what makes Vancouver’s renal market so unique. Why exactly are so many rental units furnished? In every other city I have ever lived in the suites are empty. If you asked to rent a furnished suite, people would look at you finny.
So… what’s up with Van and furnishes suites? Anyone??
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markx Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Some info on the low end: $700 all inclusive (no dryer, no dishwasher), for two bedroom, no living room. Basically two small rooms plus a medium sized kitchen. East van ground level suite of one side of a duplex. Around Fraser & King Edward. Moved in last July.
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craabman Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Because it’s the only way you can get positive cash flow on Vancouver Condos. Throw in some cheap furniture, then rent it out for 50% more.
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ForeignerX Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Hi,
), bus etc etc Cherry on the cake we have THE view. South west corner large balcony on the 20th floor. We embrace all kits, waterfront and the mountains. Sunset everyday. No, sunset only every sunny day Geeze the weather really suck in vancouver don’t you think?
I arrived in vancouver from europe 3 years or so ago.
I started in September with one month in a youth hostel at jericho beach: 600$ It was a rat race to find a place. Usually 50 people at least for each add… I end up sharing a modern townhouse with 3 other student for 550 $ at McDonald and broadway for a year or so.
Moved to share an apartment with a friend for 2 month because at 4th and Arbutus he got the wickest view ever of downtown from kits.
Then moved to share a studio with the GF for 950$ (total) at 12th and Granville. Started to get even more addicted to the view from a high west facing floor.
We move from the cramp studio to a large 650 sqft 1 bedroom downtown. Same hollyburn professional no trouble tenant as the previous building. We pay 1200 (raised to 125oish in january) +75$ parking lot. It s a bit stiff but still reasonable. And the bonus is that we live basically one block off corner of robson and burrard. We got everything we need one block away: bars, restaurants, grocery, drugs (plus my beloved delivery guy
Bottom line 1: I m looking now and then on Craigslist to move to a cheaper place but I think I m addicted to my current box in the sky and don t mind too much so far to pay a small premium.
Bottom line 2: As soon as I can buy a 2 bedroom in downtown with view for 300ish and keep making/saving good money with my job, I m in. And I could even put 50% down.
PS: But I m not going to spend all my hard earn cash on a 500sqft shoebox. How can you people be SO dumb ????
Half a million dollars is a life long a surf, sex and coconut milk in a pacific island!!! NAh, I rather spend my life and my girlfriend life and our kid(s) serving Grande Lattucina sock juice at Shitbucksin order to live the dream at the 2nd floor of the Best building on earth watching rain droplets on the next concrete wall hahahaha
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Ken Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
It seems that craigslist ads are usually have inflated asking prices. Whats another place one can look?
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Patriotz Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
You should distinguish those who only make money on the upside, i.e. the bagholders (CMHC, banks), from those who make money both ways (the other guys).
We haven’t seen the downside yet.
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Digi Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
craigslist cuts both ways – its really easy to find lots of listings there from the comfort of your desk, but its also very easy and free for spammers, scammers and speculators to list whatever they want. I’ve found that the less convenient it is to find, the better the listing is. Small local newspapers sometimes have rental listings, but one of the best ways to find a decent rental is to do regular walks through the neighborhood you want to live in. Sometimes you find signs for apartments that haven’t shown up anywhere else yet. I found my last two places this way and found the places and prices reasonable.
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Stratamaan Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Digi “but one of the best ways to find a decent rental is to do regular walks through the neighborhood you want to live in” Yes right on! also word of mouth especially with those connected with the industry or with friends in the industry. Example our suite $1400.00 /month suite one above IDENTICAL $2300 / month.
So far I’ve caused two move outs when I finally meet the people in the suite (in the elevator). Soon as they find out which suite I’m in they ask what you payin and I tell im! 
Then two months later they move out and it’s quiet above for a couple of months till the next sucker/neighbour moves in. So far it’s vacant 1 outa 3 months (over two years although its been 4 months vacant now)! Good return hmmm? 
If they rented the same as our landlord they would make more! Most of these new type renters just ew/ awe over the view and write checks it seems. No market investigation is even considered.
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krriish Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Ken,
No matter what you say good to see you back.On the rental issue there is a saying that”Foolish makes home and wise man live in them”.
The different between renters and owners, the owners return back to their homes and renter return back to their rental units.
Well,there are lots of diffrent figures are being represents which show the Value of place to be. I have found that Downtown & Gastown are most liveable,most convenient with lots more expensive futures, are expensive than the rest of B.C.
Rents goes up too often people only come too know that when they have to change their lease or nest for best of the best.
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vanman Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
3 bedroom 2 bathroom + rec room and den in a 60 year old house on a standard 33×110 lot 5 blocks east of Oakridge. About 2,000 sq ft. $2070/month. Was $1980 for 3 years and just went up in January. neighbour is a realtor and says this place would sell for over $700,000. Identical house (we’re talking a clone) 2 doors down was listed for $788,000. Not sure what it sold for.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
So if foolish make home and wise men live in them, that pretty much covers the stupidity of buying…
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krriish Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Sofia,
Somehow wisemens does not exist without foolish people because if we don’t have a fools.
1.Wisemens won’t take a birth in homes.
2.They can not comute from city to city.
3.They must buy their own homes which they don’t like to be fool them self for.
In fools category, we need some land,developers,city planners,architectures,engineers,buyers,construction material,genral labourers and risk the whole process in bad weather and up side downs.that way we can accomodate a wiseman than wisemens,so some one need to be fool first rest are present,I mean wisemens are in action.
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jj Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
one thing about those speculator’s apartment is their intention to flip. We moved into an apt. for about 2 years and the owner wanna to sell it and suggest us to move out… blah… what a hassle… every few days, suite showing…unexpected moving costs… sucks!!!
after that we only rent from property companies…
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Patriotz Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
You must be kidding. It’s a good time for landlords when the tenant is covering your costs.
This has to be the worst time for landlords since 1982.
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Stratamaan Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
scullboy; “So whats up with Van and furnishes suites? Anyone??” In the income bracket those places rent for (above $1400/month), a majority of the renters are short term transient workers. The movie industry WAS one of the most frequent employers, other tenants generally have either short term employment contracts, or use the units as vacation homes. By renting furnished the owner can also avoid having the strata find out about short weekly or daily renters (against most strata bylaws), as the most common way for a strata to find out is elevator bookings for move-in/out of furniture, which by the way usually costs the tenant $100 to 150 bucks.
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Drachenn Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
JJ
You know the owner has to give you a LOT when they want to kick you out without cause. First off he can only give you notice AFTER the place has been sold.
- 2 months to move out.
- 1 month’s rent. (or you may withhold your last month’s rent)
- You can give 10 day’s notice at any time in the 2 months and move out early. The landlord must only charge you for the time you spent living there and must STILL give you a month’s rent.
http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/conte.....fault.aspx
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Drachenn Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Oh and I forgot to mention JJ, if this has happened within the last 2 years (I think that’s the time limit, not sure) you can still apply to get the month’s rent from your landlord.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Krrish
Even for you that was babbling. I’m impressed.
I note in the fools category you’ve placed every single person who MAKES money from the construction of housing. The “wisemen” are the ones who pay too much and take on all the risk.
Given your definitions it’s unsurprising where you stand on the housing market. The more money people pay for housing, the “wiser” they are, and it’s better to own a home then make investments in the stock market.
Just out of curiousity where are you from? Are there a LOT of people from your home country living in Van? I really *really* hope so.
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Drachenn Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
“Just out of curiousity where are you from?”
He claims to have grown up here. It’s entirely possible, I’ve met a couple of people who are locally educated and have his level of English skills.
When you add in his terrible logic and thinking skills it becomes entirely possible that English might actually be his first language because if he’s ESL it only explains the horrific language skills. Personally I think he did way too much amyl nitrate in High School.
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skullboy Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I started out on the East Coast and ended up here. I have to tell you in all my travels I have never, ever met a Canadian who wrote so badly.
If that’s the level of education you get in BC then it would explain everything about Krrish, including his appaling provincialism.
If Krrish is representative of the local bulls it would also explain the RE market, come to think of it. I don’t know anywhere else in Canada where this kind of irrationality exists.
Even in Toronto, where there is a real “center of Canada, nobody else matters” mentality doesn’t have as irrational a RE market as BC.
Krrish, did you REALLY grow up here? No offense buddy but I figured you were had to be somewhere else.
Still, we’ve passed the peak. All those headlines about the collapsing stock market pretty much nailed the RE market. There’s no money left to pump into BC, and any foreigners who bought in should pretty much have to cash out all at once.
I swear if this doesn’t do it, I’m heading somewhere else.
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ulsterman Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Got evicted from my ground floor one bedroom a couple of block easr of Granville near 14th. A bunch of doctors bought it for about $5.5m – that’s about 250k per one bed suite. My rent was 905
The new landlords gave 2 month’s notice – i moved early because they started building and the hallways and outside areas became a mess. They were coverting all the 750 sqft one beds to 2 beds, adding the obligatory granite and stainless stuff.
The tenants discovered (after many of us had moved) that they didn’t have the permits to begin construction and therefore had no right to issue us evition notices. There is now an official STOP WORK notice (from the City of Vancouver) on the front door of the building.
Given that they illegally issued me with 2-months notice, still haven’t given me my one month’s rent, returned my damage deposit and interest, do you think i have a case just to go to small claims court and avoid the RTO process? Could i claim damages for the illegal eviction (i.e. 2 month’s rent)? Any thought out there?
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dd Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Mid $700s for approximately 900 sf 2 bdr basement suite in southeast Van, lots of windows, in-suite laundry & dishwasher, additional storage space. Nice enough and quite livable. This is comparable to rents of friends in cities across the country, where RE prices are not even close to those of Vancouver. Meanwhile we’re socking away loads of money every month!
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paitentlywaiting Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
ulsterman,
Why do you prefer small claims court over the RTO?
Were opening and closing inspections done?
Is it more than fifteen days after you moved out?
With my former landlord, I simply reminded him that if I filed, he would have to pay double my damage deposit. Suddenly, he was in a hurry to get my money to me.
Oh yeah, I forgot to report him to the CRA. Gotta do that soon.
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andreas Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
lol… markets took huge hits, I wonder how many investors are panicking.
Right now I’m paying 700 a month living in richmond at the same place i’ve been living at for the past 7 years right now. I’m contemplating moving out since my bro is getting married, but I’ll wait a bit and see how it works out with the housing market.
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andreas Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Ultersman,
Eviction notice can’t be issue other than for unpaid rents and miss behaviour where tenent is pain in the a$$ for other for peace,Your case is based on moving notice once you have accepted that’s it.
If your case is other than the above still there is no otherway unless you get through rto.there is lots of paper work involved,some appointments mailing and delivering docoments, process can take atleast a month, then another month through lower court but your case is weak because you are out already.
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Newcomer Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, one finished room in the basement (rest of basement semi-finished) three-level house (60+ years old). OK condition, everything works, but nothing fancy. 5 minutes from Commercial and Broadway. $1600. Moved in a year an a half ago. No rent increase. Landlady tells me its worth 700K. City assessment is 600K, so she might be about right.
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Andreas Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Hey stop posting as me!
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bcubbins Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Off topic…maybe Rennie should cool the rhetoric a little…
Marty Ummel feels she paid too much for her house. So do millions of other people who bought at the peak of the housing boom. What makes Ms. Ummel different is that she is suing her agent, saying it was all his fault.
…
“There are a lot of letters going out from lawyers to real estate agents saying, ‘My client would never have purchased if you had properly evaluated the market conditions and the value of the property.’ ”
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think_first Says:
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
First time poster, long time lurker!
Moved to Burnaby from Calgary 4.5 years ago. Took the first place I saw. Landlord is now 83 years old and has had tenants for past 20 years or so. Basement suite in a 60 year old place. Nothing fancy, but approx. 1100 sq ft. (Most of my living is done in about 650 sq ft though, but the extra storage space sure is nice.) Pay $525/month. All utilities including ‘extra’ cable are included in the rent plus I have unlimited access to washer/dryer. Only thing I pay is phone/internet. Couldn’t be happier!
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JJ Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Drachenn,
The real hassle was the 24hrs notice that the Realtor gave to show the condo.
The showing part…. that’s totally unbearable. 2-3 times a week, ten, twenty people come in to your place and sniff around everywhere, opening closets, asking questions… TOTALLY SUCKS…
At last, we moved out within 1 month, got all the deposit back, and the condo was sold in 3 weeks time, and we endured all that hassle. That was June 2007.
It’s hard to even find the owner. He is a US investor, doing show business in Las Vegas and half the year he’s in Germany. It would be near impossible to file for rents back when dealing with foreigner.
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Strataman Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 9:14 am
jj “The showing part…. that’s totally unbearable. 2-3 times a week, ten, twenty people come in to your place and sniff around everywhere, opening closets, asking questions… TOTALLY SUCKS…” I wonder if this is even legal, anybody really familiar with the rental tenancy act? Seems to me a tenant should be able to refuse showings and anything other than a owner inspection once every three months would be considered undue harassment, unless it was previously agreed to in the rental contract. If that happened to me I would simply refuse access to anyone but the registered owner. Where is it written that a legal tenant has to do this? Input anyone?
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Strataman Says:
January 25th, 2008 at 9:17 am
OH yeh!! I would also sue for the theft of a million dollars worth of diamonds that were missing after each visit!
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JJ Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
i did phone the rto about showing suite, and waited 45mins before someone answer my phone. She told me that open house would be too inconvenience for the tenants (unless tenant agrees), but showing for 10mins 15mins would be tough to refuse if they give you 24hr notice.
About 4 years ago, we live in an apartment owned by nacel properties and it was even worse. They demanded inspection every month to see if you’re grow-op in their suites. The manager would come in and walk around for few seconds and leave.
I can say renting really do sucks
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Kerrisdale Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:55 am
We live in a 850 sq foot bedroom, older building with a balcony in Kerrisdale.
We pay 1050 a month including parking.
We have 2 kids…it’s smallish but we spend most of our time at work/school and are outdoors on the weekends.
We are saving money…maybe we will buy someday but certainly not now. We spend less than 10% of our gross income on “housing”.
Can’t imagine spending 70%!
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Kerrisdale Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 9:56 am
that is a 2 bedroom…sorry.
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Digi Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Kerrisdale: I don’t think anyone actually spends 70% of their gross income on housing, how would you eat? 10% is a very good ratio though, ours is about the same. 1100 west side two bedroom apt – that includes all the utilities etc, and sure makes it easier to save, travel and invest.
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Kerrisdale Says:
January 29th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Digi-see this article:
http://www.canada.com/vancouve.....mp;k=98966
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rock Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
fairview area, 1970s apartment building. main floor, !!!facing dumpster!!!! 6 months ago, for 2br, asking $1500, today $1700…. tenant moving out soon paid $1400.
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Strataman Says:
January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
rock “today $1700″ do you mean thats what they’re asking or? Anyone who looks for more than a couple of days can find a two bedroom with in-suite laundry recreation facilities and be right downtown in a building no older than 5 years for 1800.00. For that age(1970’s) you can find quite a few places in Kits right off the beach, for $1200.00. I would imagine the guy moving out who paid $1400.00 found out he was a sucker, and probably got a far better place a couple hundred cheaper.
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rock Says:
January 31st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Strataman,
yes, that’s what they’re asking for. i don’t know if the landlord can get that, but it’s a pet friendly building. hard to come by in kits area i guess.
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Anonymous Says:
February 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
hey everyone, i rent a 1 bedroom directly across from kits beach for 900.00.
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Liz Says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hey Everyone,
Since Craig’s List is usually over-priced, what are the better resources, websites, methods, etc., to use when looking for an apartment (West End, Westside)?
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Taz Says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Just walking and looking for For Rent signs is a good bet.
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Raino Says:
April 28th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Interesting, I’m not seeing too many people renting whole houses here. We’re paying 1850 month for a 3/2 1800 square ft apt. above retail near Main. It took us 4 months to find this place. Looking for something that takes pets and is suitable for a family is *brutal*. Everyday for over 4 months. Most places gone by the time I called them. Lots of basement suites available, or Vancouver special duplexes..but I found the rental market really tight. A few houses we looked at in the $3000 range were in such bad shape that I thought the (exposed) wiring would start sparking as we walked through.
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Rodr!go Says:
February 16th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I’m searching for housing and, as you can see, I’m coming from abroad.
I have CAN$350 for rent in my (draft) budget. Would you think I might find something near 1380 Burrard Street? I’m aware that I might need roommates for that or is just way out of the question with that amount?
The basement suites sound like a really good option!