Several Vancouver neighbourhoods saw decline in rental availability over 20-year census period: study

Several Vancouver neighbourhoods traditionally dominated by renter-households have either lost renters or shifted toward owner-occupied households, according to a new analysis of census data.

East side neighbourhoods that have long been considered affordable, such as Grandview-Woodland and Strathcona, saw renter household declines of up to 17 per cent over a 20-year census period, according to the study by Andy Yan, associate professor of urban studies and director of Simon Fraser University’s City Program. While the total number of renters in the city increased along with the general population, the number of renter households in these neighbourhoods declined. In other neighbourhoods, the percentage of renters declined and the percentage of homeowners increased.