BuckinghamshireBoy

Right-ho, got you now, thanks for that.

Aviator

Strata can also impose additional fees on top of the monthly fee, which can be significant for substantial upgrades and repairs

scrubbedexpat091

Indeed.

Mother law used to have an investment condo in Squamish, and they had a roof leaking issue or something, and each unit had to pay 50,0000 towards the repairs.

caretaker

Classic case of poor management, there's no excuse for not having insurance for that. My parent's condo in Oliver had a manager that didn't plan ahead for the expiry of the roof warranty and he got fired for his incompetence. The residents weren't charged anything because there was no interior damage, and someone who could do the job became the new manager. The old one was a rhymes with vet martinet and we never got along so I was happy he got cut down.

Aviator

The leaky condo scandal cost lots of folks a lot of money.

scrubbedexpat091

For sure.

I am wary of condos because of that, and other issues. We have lived in a few newer condos over the past few years and I would not rate the quality of the build as great.

There is a unit down the hall, 5 doors down, she has been flooded 3 or 4 times in the past year, apparently something to do with the pipe that drains water from the roof when it rains, she has spent more time in hotels since buying the unit then she has in the unit, it also floods the hall and partially floods the unit next door.

I am not impressed with the condos I have seen.

scrubbedexpat091

Another part of the problem, when the city thinks rent starting at $1,496 per month is affordable housing and at that rate its a studio only suitable for a single.

https://www.straight.com/news/110323...ousing-project

Shard

Fairly central though, so it's "affordable for being central". If it were in Delta, for example, "affordable" rent would be lower.

scrubbedexpat091

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Problem is Vancouver needs actual affordable housing, not everyone can live in the suburbs which really are at this point not much cheaper and from the burbs you need a car and at 1,50 to 1.60 per liter just for gas, it can easily cost more to live in the burbs vs Vancouver using transit or a scooter.

Affordability should be based on income, not location, and income in Vancouver is far from high for a good chunk of the population.

scrubbedexpat091

At least 4.8 million Canadians live below the poverty line, according Statistics Canada.

"A survey by the Angus Reid Institute released Tuesday took a deeper look at exactly what living in poverty means in Canada, and the challenges faced by those who struggle to make ends meet."

scrubbedexpat091

Baker told council that if the city wants expensive housing that wealthy renters can afford, then it should say so, instead of claiming that these projects are affordable.

scrubbedexpat091

Gotta love it when your too poor for apartments that are supposedly affordable housing.

"There are 9 remaining one bedroom units of 3 different styles available.
The lower end of market rental rate is $1,561/month (one bedroom) to individuals or couples whose total annual household income is between $49,000 and $85,000. Units are available immediately and priority is given to those who want to move in on June 1st, June 15th and July 1st."

The rent at the place above $189 less per month vs our current place.

Shard

The problem with that is someone has to pay, and that someone is often the taxpayer. We've just been through that in the UK, where the situation was that low income / unemployed people in central London were being subsidised to live in housing costing £3-4000 per month, because of location. It's since been capped at about £2000 per month.

Moses2013

True and it's the same all over Europe. The problem is that you can only create so much affordable housing in a popular city and if housing is your main priority, maybe consider other places.
Until a place becomes unpopular again, housing costs are always going to be the main issue. Unless you are loaded with money, the only option is to walk away from mainstream.

BristolUK

Js...just wondering...how many different places have you lived in over the last, say, 5 years?