Posts Tagged ‘vacancy rates’

Saskatchewan Government Increasing Per-Diem Rates for Emergency Shelters

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

November 12th, 2012

The Focus Is To Develop Relationships With Private Landlords for Safe and Affordable Housing

According to a report in the Leader Post, the provincial government is going to increase the per-diem rates Saskatchewan emergency shelters receive.

Who Does the Funding System Work?

Accommodations and meals are paid for on a per-diem basis to shelters for people requiring temporary emergency shelter. The per diem for families has been increased by providing $28 per child, up to a maximum of five children.

Before this increase, social services provided per diems of $47 for single adults, $62.50 for families and childless couples and $20 per person for meals.

What Do Those On the Front Line Say?

The head of the Regina YWCA said the new funding was appreciated. However, shelters in Regina are still always filled and people in need are turned away nightly.

And there is a need for more affordable housing.

The YWCA director said she want to start assisting her clients to get into private rental housing.

Howver even with all the good landlords out there, there simply isn’t enough rental housing available.

What Does She Recommend?

The director, Elias-Henry, wants to develop good relationships with private landlords.  The goal is to find safe and affordable housing for her clients to get them out of the shelter.

Sounds Like A Good Plan!

Elias-Henry wants to reach out to private landlords so her clients can avoid being homeless and have some stability in their housing needs.

What’s the Problem?

She says nearly half the women in her downtown Regina shelter don’t have permanent housing when they leave.  

Why is That?

It’s impossible to say exactly. Landlords all over do not want to have to act as ‘social workers’ and always worry about getting a Tenant From Hell.

Taking on a tenant with a history of non-payment or mental illness may lead the landlord to lose rent and have a bad situation where they are looking for help for themselves.

It’s an issue that all stake-holders need to discuss and work out a plan that understand the concerns of everyone involved.

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Regina Vacancy Rate Lowest in Canada! Rate Falls to 0.6%

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

July 6th, 2012

What’s the Latest Regarding the Canadian Rental Situation?

The CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) recently released their ‘Spring Rental Survey reporting on vacancy rates across Canada.

What’s the News for Saskatchewan Landlords?

The Spring Rental Survey reported the lowest vacancy rates in the nation are found in Regina.

Regina Has the Lowest Vacancy Rates?

Yes. the vacancy rate in the Regina Census Metropolitan Area was 0.6% in April, 2012.  This is down from 0.7% in April, 2011.

In Regina rents have also increased faster than the rate of inflation.

What’s the Reason for the Low Rates?

According to the CMCH, it’s due to powerful gains in employment, increasing wages and a very low rate of unemployment.  This has caused a lot of migration to the area.

Furthermore, new and real home prices have increased.  This has led some people to delay purchasing their own home and deciding to rent instead.

What about Saskatoon?

The vacancy rate in Saskatoon also decreased.  In April, 2012 it was 3.1%.  In April, 2011 it was 3.4%.

What about in other cities?

The vacancy rate declined dramatically in Swift Current.  It was only 2.8% in April, 2012 compared to 9.6% in April, 2012.  This is largely due to increased energy exploration and drilling and the strength of the agricultural industry.

Because of a strong economy vacancies fell in Estevan from 2.5% in April 2011 to only 1%.

Surprisingly, Estevan also had the highest per average rents in Saskatchewan.  An average 2 bedroom apartment rents for approximately $1000 per month.

The rate fell in Yorkton as well.  There was a large drop from 4.9% in 2011 to only 1.4% in 2012.

Which Cities Have the Highest Vacancy Rates?

The highest is North Battleford at 5.3%.  Its followed by Prince Albert at 3.9%

What About the Price of Rents?

Rents in Regina rose by 5.5% compared to 2011.  Rents in Saskatoon rose 2.9%.

According to the CMHC, in Regina the average 2 bedroom apartment rents for $948.  In Saskatoon, it would be $976.

In Regina, rents for all types of suites rose by 5.5 per cent over the last year, compared with 2.9 per cent in Saskatoon.

The largest increase in rent was at Yorkton.  Rents there are up 8.4%.

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