The BC Government is expanding its Secondary Suites Incentive Program to 16 regional districts, including the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
The province says the three-year pilot – which already applies to all 161 incorporated municipalities – will create as many as 1,000 affordable rental units for each of the three years, when it launches in April.
It will provide approximately 3,000 homeowners with forgivable loans of as much as $40,000 so they can create a new secondary suite, with the commitment that it will be rented at below market rates for at least five years.
“We’re expanding the secondary suite program as part of our Homes for People action plan to support the supply of affordable long-term rentals in even more areas of the province so more people can access below-market housing in urban and rural areas alike,” Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said.
“We’re using innovative solutions to make it easier for homeowners and communities to build homes faster, so people can live and work in the communities they love.”
The province says 16 of the 27 regional districts in B.C. “have the necessary building bylaws, and building-permit and inspection services across their electoral areas” allowing them to join the pilot now. The other 11 regional districts could be added to the pilot in the future.
“Rural homeowners who want to create a rental suite and people looking for affordable homes in rural B.C. will have more options soon,” Roly Russell, B.C.’s Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development added.
“The housing crisis affects all corners of the province. Giving people more options and support is important, and the addition of below-market rental suites and accessory units will help rural people, and communities, everywhere.”
The province says it has released a comprehensive guide to build and manage a rental suite in British Columbia.
It is also developing new standardized designs for small-scale, multi-unit homes, such as townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes that “will help homeowners and builders save on time and costs.”
The SSIP will now also be available in the following 16 regional districts:
- Alberni-Clayoquot
- Capital
- Central Kootenay
- Central Okanagan
- Cowichan Valley
- East Kootenay
- Fraser Valley
- Fraser-Fort George
- Kootenay Boundary
- Nanaimo
- North Okanagan
- Squamish-Lillooet
- Strathcona
- Sunshine Coast
- Thompson-Nicola
- Peace River
