Housing prices are reaching all time highs in Kamloops and it’s being blamed on supply and demand but one city councillor says there is a solution.

Bill Sarai thinks the market can use more secondary suites.

Speaking on the NL Morning News, he said there’s more than one demographic that would be interested. “We know there’s affordability issues, there’s a housing issue for a vast amount of people on different economic levels and secondary suites are, in the most part, a first step in moving out of your parents house or seniors downsizing.”

“That’s just the way they’ve rented most of their lives. So, we need to have enough units out there, safe units, for them to reside in.”

He did admit the suites aren’t without their problems, like clogging neighbourhood streets. “Parking is a whole separate issue. It’s a street bylaw issue. But what it does, it sparks that resentment with your neighbours because you want your street to be safe.”

“You want to be able to have your guests park in front of your house and all of a sudden you’ve got people parking all over the street, all over the block that you have no idea who they are and it causes some resentment.”

He pointed out secondary suites aren’t just a benefit for renters but also landlords like seniors on a fixed income trying to make ends meet or young couples trying to pay off their first mortgage.