Jeff Cummings, Metro Edmonton
September 25, 2008

 Back to Main In the News Page

Times might be better when it comes to finding a place to rent, but Edmonton tenants are still struggling to cope with massive rent increases, says a report released yesterday.

“Despite some improvement in the vacancy rate, five times more renters reported their housing situation is getting worse rather than better,” said researcher Anette Kinley with the Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC).

More than four out of five renters reported their rent went up last year at an average increase of $195 per month, said Kinley.

The council surveyed 727 renters in Edmonton back in April and May when the vacancy rate was over three per cent.

The vacancy rate in Edmonton was around one per cent in April 2007, she said, in a year that saw tent cities making headlines.

A spokesman for the city’s largest landlord criticized the report saying it only tells stories from a small sample of renters.

“Their numbers are way off compared to the numbers from Canada Mortgage and Housing, which gives really solid surveys,” said David McIlveen, director of community development with Boardwalk Rental Communities.

McIlveen said Boardwalk, which owns more than 12,000 properties in Edmonton, helps low-income families on a case-by-case basis in maintaining their rents.

“It’s fair to say, from what people told us, the rental crisis is still the same in Edmonton,” said John Kolkman, a research and policy analysis coordinator with ESPC.

Kolkman suggests the provincial government should enforce rent controls until there is enough affordable accommodation space available in Alberta.

Back to Main In the News Page