Dan Fumano: Vancouver eyes ‘vacancy control’ for SRO housing

Vancouver council is set to make a pair of decisions next week that could send important signals about the future of single-room occupancy housing, which provide homes for thousands of the city’s most vulnerable people.

First, staff are seeking council’s approval for a “ vacancy control” policy on designated SRO units, meaning maximum allowable rent increases would be tied to the unit and not the tenant.

Supporters of vacancy control, like COPE Coun. Jean Swanson, call it a desperately needed measure that would prevent private-sector landlords from jacking up the rent when tenants move out, thereby removing previously affordable units from the housing stock.

But Christopher Wall, one of those private-sector landlords and owner of eight Vancouver SROs totalling more than 500 rooms, says vacancy control is a “terrible idea” that would to lead to the deterioration of these rooming houses.

“The obvious solution is that the B.C. provincial government and the federal government combine to buy every SRO in the City of Vancouver,” Wall said.

Asked how he would respond to criticism that he is advocating government cut him a cheque for his buildings, Wall said: “It would be a win-win. I think the province should own my portfolio.”

“These are old buildings, they’re getting more expensive to run, insurance is climbing,” Wall said.

It is increasingly difficult for private owners to maintain SRO buildings with reasonable health and safety standards, Wall said, and it would be impossible if rooms were rented close to $375 a month, the government’s shelter allowance for people on welfare.

Rents in Wall’s SROs average about $595 a month, he said. That’s more than the $375 shelter rate, but far less than some other privately owned SROs that charge up to $1,000.