The City of Vancouver’s plan to create an online searchable rental database is a good one, according to the city’s largest private landlord, Hollyburn Properties. On January 17th, 2012, council unanimously passed a motion introduced by City Councillor Tim Stevenson directing staff to create a one-stop location online that would collect information already publicly available through various city departments. Information regarding outstanding work orders and property violations would be among the items posted.
The database is designed to give renters a useful tool to help them make informed decisions about where they rent as well as to flag negligent landlords. It’s patterned after a similar database already underway in New York City, where, like Vancouver, a high proportion of residents live in rental accommodation.
Hollyburn’s position is that most residential property owners and managers do a great job of keeping their buildings in a good state of repair but that there is a small minority of negligent landlords and if the registry takes those landlords to task, it could help the industry as a whole. The BC Apartment Owners and Managers Association agrees, saying the idea has value but urges caution be used in how the database is used.
“We know a tiny fraction of landlords are causing most of the problems,” said Marg Gordon, president of the BCAOMA.
The BCAOMA represents 1200 landlord members and 85,000 units of rental housing across B.C., including 75% of Vancouver rental housing units. Gordon would like to see the database extended to cover not just multi-residential apartment buildings, but to also include rented houses, co-ops, rooming houses, single room occupancy hotels and basement suites.
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation statistics show that purpose built rental apartments only represent 43% of Metro Vancouver’s rental stock while 57% are secondary rental units like condos and secondary suites.
“We do have some concerns as to what information will be presented. The focus should be on health and safety issues for tenants, not on matters where there may be an outstanding work order that may beyond the landlord’s control,” said Gordon.
Hollyburn Properties and the BCAOMA agree the proposed online rental database could benefit both tenants and responsible landlords – especially if a way is found to recognize and reward the good landlords while encouraging others to aspire to the same standard of excellence.
Along with its 47 Vancouver apartment rental properties in the most desirable neighbourhoods in Metro Vancouver – on Vancouver’s West Side, West End , North Vancouver and West Vancouver, Hollyburn Properties also provides premier apartments for rent in Calgary and Toronto. With 40 years experience in providing fine rental homes, the Canadian owned and operated company promises unwavering dedication to professionalism, service and quality.
For more information about Hollyburn Properties Limited, go to www.rentersguide.com.
