Eby promises sweeping plan to improve housing affordability in the province, including curbing regulatory powers of local governments and strata councils, and creating a new ‘flipping tax’
David Eby, who served as B.C.’s housing minister until he resigned his post in July to run for the New Democratic Party leadership, is promising sweeping changes to provincial housing policy, including measures to increase housing density in communities zoned for single family homes.
Mr. Eby, who also served as B.C.’s attorney-general until this summer, vowed to tackle “frauds, cheats and criminals” by increasing policing powers to investigate suspicious real estate transactions. Mr. Eby’s proposals would force municipalities to allow greater density. Homebuilders in major urban centres would be allowed to replace a single family home with up to three units on the same footprint, as long as they are consistent with existing setbacks and height requirements. As well, secondary suites would be made legal in every region of the province.
Under Mr. Eby’s proposals, strata councils would no longer be able to ban rentals. Mr. Eby would also abolish age restrictions in some stratas that prohibit those under 19, although restrictions for seniors-only buildings would remain in place.