Immobilien - suchen und finden. » Living in Calgary

Für alle die planen, hier nach calgary zu ziehen, möchte ich ein paar aktuelle artikel aus dem internet empfehlen, denn im gegensatz zum restlichen teil des landes und hingegen der landläufigen meinung ist das wohnen hier in letzter zeit sehr teuer geworden.

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High rents reaching 'crisis,' Tory MLA says
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 8, 2007 | 3:13 PM MT
CBC News

Rising rents are creating a "crisis situation" in the city, Calgary-Nose Hill Tory MLA Neil Brown says.

"I think that we need some sort of guidelines for landlords," Brown told CBC News Monday.

"The vast majority of landlords are very prudent and reasonable in their rent increases. But we've heard some unscrupulous landlords have given inordinate increases of 30 and 40 per cent, which have really resulted in some hardships for tenants."

Although Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said he's concerned some landlords are gouging their tenants, he does not think imposing a cap on rent increases is the answer.

University of Calgary Prof. David Taras predicts rising rents will be an issue in the next provincial election, expected to be called next year.

Three of Calgary's 23 ridings were won by the Liberals the last time voters went to the polls in November 2004.
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Unless the rent problem is dealt with, the Tories could lose more seats, said Taras.

The rental issue came up at the weekend meeting of Alberta Progressive Conservatives, during which delegates rejected a motion to adopt rent controls.

Last week, the province passed new rules to limit rent increases to once a year and require landlords to give tenants a year's notice if they want to do major renovations.

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Angry renters meet with housing minister
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 9, 2007 | 2:04 PM MT
CBC News

Alberta's housing minister met face-to-face Tuesday with nearly two dozen people who have been hit with huge rent increases.

The renters were angry that the province is refusing to consider rent controls to counter a spike in rental rates as housing prices soar and vacancy rates plummet.

On Tuesday, Housing Minister Ray Danyluk took up Liberal Leader Kevin Taft's challenge to meet with a group of 23 renters.

The group had complaints of rents that are spiralling beyond their reach, including a woman who said her rent has gone from $570 to $800 a month and she only has an income of $1,050.

Retired soldier Peter Tyleman came out of the closed-door meeting with Danyluk and Treasury Board president Lloyd Snelgrove, unsatisfied with the response.

He says the Tory party's refusal to bring in rent controls is a slap in the face to low-income Albertans.
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"That means nothing to the poor woman with one or two children that's struggling at a cheap job just to make ends meet, being told by her landlord that her rent is going up two or three hundred per cent. It's insane."

But Danyluk has repeatedly dismissed the option of limiting rent increases, saying he doesn't want the government to interfere in the market.

"They have brought forward the plights they have and I will bring that forward to government," Danyluk said after the meeting.
'Crisis situation' in Calgary, MLA says

On Monday, Calgary-Nose Hill Tory MLA Neil Brown said rising rents are creating a "crisis situation" in the city.

"I think that we need some sort of guidelines for landlords," he said.

"The vast majority of landlords are very prudent and reasonable in their rent increases. But we've heard some unscrupulous landlords have given inordinate increases of 30 and 40 per cent, which have really resulted in some hardships for tenants."

The rental issue came up at the weekend meeting of Alberta Progressive Conservatives, during which delegates rejected a motion to adopt rent controls.

The government introduced new rules in the legislature this past week to limit rent hikes to one a year and to mandate that landlords give tenants a year's notice if they want to convert apartments to condos.

They have also committed $285 million to help municipalities construct more affordable housing and to deliver short-term aid for renters and newcomers in crisis.

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More than 300 rally at legislature over rent hikes
Last Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2007 | 4:24 PM MT
CBC News

More than 300 people chanted "homes for all" during a noon-hour rally on the steps of the Alberta legislature Thursday to protest soaring housing costs and huge rent increases.

The NDP organized the demonstration to persuade the provincial government to do more to address the affordable housing problem.

Hundreds demonstrated at the legislature in Edmonton in hopes of convincing the government to do more for affordable housing.Hundreds demonstrated at the legislature in Edmonton in hopes of convincing the government to do more for affordable housing.
(CBC News)

Laurie Weaver, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair to get around, lives in an apartment in northeast Edmonton. She pays $800 a month but is looking for a new place because her apartment building is going to be converted to condominiums.

So far she has only found apartments that cost $1,000, equal to her monthly income, she said.

"I'd like to eat once in a while, but there's just nothing out there. Nothing. About the only thing I can afford is a box on the street and I don't want to live on the street."

NDP Leader Brian Mason, who helped organize the rally, said people are angry that Alberta's Tory government refuses to bring in rent controls, even for the short term.

"It's really a sad day in Alberta when the government has so little compassion," he said.
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A government housing task force recommended rent controls, but the Tory caucus decided they would cause developers to stop building new apartments.

Earlier this month, Alberta's housing minister, Ray Danyluk, met face-to-face with nearly two dozen people who have been hit with huge rent increases.

Premier Ed Stelmach says $285 million is being invested to create new affordable housing units and he continues to resist calls for rent controls, saying they would scare investors away.
Condo conversions more popular

According to the CMHC, the price of a two-bedroom apartment in Calgary in October, 2006 was $960, up 19.5 percent from the year before. In Edmonton the price was $808, up from 9.9 per cent the year before.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Calgary only saw two new apartment projects built last year.

Lai Sing Louie, a senior market analyst, said condo conversions continue to be a much more popular choice for developers because they're cheaper and more profitable.

Louie says 18 per cent of condo conversions are rented out by investors for about 30 per cent higher than regular apartment rents.

Grant Neufeld, with the Calgary Housing Action Initiative, said non-profit organizations that build affordable housing need access to land, but there's a catch.

"You can't give land to a non-profit affordable housing agency without paying a capital gains tax on that land, which makes it prohibitively expensive to donate land for this purpose."

Neufeld said Calgary needs to follow the lead of cities like Vancouver that require new developments to include a certain number of affordable housing and rental units.

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Quelle: http://www.cbc.ca