NDP’s David Eby unveils sweeping new housing plan, including removing strata restrictions

B.C.’s New Democratic Party (NDP) leadership contender David Eby announced Wednesday that if elected, tackling B.C.’s housing affordability crisis will be one of his top priorities.

Eby is the front-runner to replace John Horgan as both B.C.’s premier and leader of the NDP and he plans on using the province’s legal powers to fast-track affordable middle-class housing, even if that means over-ruling individual municipalities.

This marks his first major policy announcement since joining the race.

“We all know how hard it is to find affordable housing these days. Bold new solutions are needed,” reads a blurb posted by Eby on his website.

A crucial part of his plan includes removing strata restrictions on rentals.

Currently, the B.C. government says that some strata corporations have in place a rental restriction bylaw.

This includes limiting “the number or percentage of residential strata lots that may be rented or limit the length of time the residential strata lots may be rented.”

If elected, Eby says that he would remove the strata bylaw. This would also block strata’s from banning rentals.

Except for seniors, this would prevent setting age limits, like residents must be 19 or older to live in the building — which stops families with children from moving in, and causes residents to move out if they have a child.

“We are in a housing crisis, where the current rules are preventing homes from being made available, we’ll change them so they work for people,” he said.

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The Vancouver-Point Grey M.L.A says he would also bring in a house-flipping tax to deter speculation.

“Big and small investors alike are using the housing shortage to make excessive profits through short-term flipping. Often little or nothing is improved on the house before it sold again a few months later,” Eby said.

The house flipping tax would be on, “sales of residential properties sold within two years.”

In addition to this, Eby plans on legalizing secondary suites in every corner of B.C., and allowing developers in big cities to replace single-family homes with up to three units.

“Huge international corporations are trying to buy up rental buildings in BC and squeezing renters out of places they can afford. This results in housing that is unattainable for many middle-class families, seniors and individuals who work, live in, and keep communities healthy and functioning,” he said.

One of the ways the former Attorney General plans to combat the housing crisis is by helping secure rental prices for residents.

“Protect tenants from rent increases when the building is purchased. We will support non-profits in getting the financing so that the cost of buying the building is not downloaded onto the tenants and if needed the province will provide rentals supplements to any tenants who need support,” he claims.

The NDP chooses it new leader on Dec. 3.