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Social- and market rental housing

Finding affordable rental housing in Vancouver can be a challenge for residents of all income brackets.

For lower-income tenants, it's particularly difficult.

That is why Council is actively working to protect the City's existing supply of affordable rental housing, while adding an additional 5,000 units of non-market or social housing.

At the same time, Council plans to enable an additional 11,000 new market rental housing units to the City's stock, as well as help more renters become home owners, by enabling the building of 20,000 new market ownership units.

The goal is to make sure every resident has a safe, affordable home.

Tenant resources

Find social and co-op housing

Subsidized housing is available for people who cannot afford to pay market rents. Find subsidized housing facilities in Vancouver, and apply to live there.

Apply for social and co-op housing

If you are a low wage earner, you may be entitled to a subsidized or co-op apartment. Learn if you qualify, and find out how to apply.

Find market rate rental housing

Use these popular online resources to find a room, apartment, or house to rent in Vancouver.

City-owned market rental housing

Rental properties are posted on the City of Vancouver's website as they become available. Note that the City does not maintain a waiting list.

Protecting tenants

Find out how owners and developers must protect tenants during rezoning and development according to our Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.

Rental disputes and evictions

Get help and legal advice for disputes with your landlord from the Residential Tenancy Branch and Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre.

Developer resources

Housing options for families

The Housing Mix Policy for Rezoning Projects is another step towards increasing the supply of family homes.

Protecting tenants

Find out how owners and developers must protect tenants during rezoning and development according to our Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy.

Guidelines for developing social housing projects (440.94 KB)

The Housing Design and Technical Guidelines Version 9.6 help housing partners develop social housing. They outline our minimum affordability and livability requirements for housing. The guidelines intend to balance immediate energy and space efficiencies, and to ensure a building's durability and resilience over its lifespan.

How we expand and maintain rental housing

Creating and protecting market rental housing

Learn about our programs to help add and protect market rental housing, apply to create housing under these programs, and get resources and forms.

Single Room Accommodation Bylaw

The SRA Bylaw regulates the alteration, conversion, and demolition of low-cost housing in Downtown to prevent the loss of housing and displacement of tenants.

Kingsway Continental non-market housing

The City purchased the former Ramada Inn hotel at 3484 Kingsway and will convert the building into non-market housing.

Find social and co-op housingApply for social and co-op housingFind market rate rental housingCity-owned market rental housingProtecting tenantsRental disputes and evictionsSingle Room Accommodation BylawCreating and protecting market rental housingGuidelines for developing social housing projectsKingsway Continental non-market housingRental units at 1105 Seymour Street