Policy directions

1. Provide opportunities for many different forms of housing, tenures (e.g. ownership, rental, co-operative housing), and affordability in mixed-use areas that are close to transit and have shops and services nearby.

2. Help create different types of housing that meet the needs of different community members. This includes, but is not limited to, housing for people with disabilities, low-income households, families, seniors, Indigenous people and immigrants.

a) Work with other orders of government and community partners to find ways to create housing that meets the needs of specific groups.

b) Develop inclusive design principles.

c) Use the development process to help create more accessible housing.

d) Work with host Nations and organizations that serve Indigenous people living in Burnaby to create housing for Indigenous people.

3. Build stronger communities by promoting connection and relationship-building in multi-family buildings. This could be achieved through developing guidelines for building design and amenities or encouraging development of co-operative or cohousing.

4. Support climate-friendly and sustainable housing development.

a) Encourage the development of energy efficient buildings.

b) Require buildings to be adaptable to climate change, such as incidents of more extreme weather.

c) Use climate-friendly building and design practices in City projects.

Why we are proposing these policies

• A wider variety housing gives community members more choices that better meet their needs.
• Housing that is close to shops, transit and services encourages people to walk, bike or take transit more often, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• The 2020 Housing Needs Report found that Burnaby needs more housing that is affordable and accessible.
• These policies will help create more housing that offers support to different groups, fosters inclusion and encourages accessibility.
• In previous phases of engagement, community members shared that they wanted to have a sense of community in their neighbourhood or building.
• Housing that encourages people to connect with each other and build relationships will make individuals and communities happier and healthier.
• Housing that is more energy efficient helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Energy efficient buildings that are designed to adapt to climate change are more comfortable, safer and have lower utility fees.

Policy directions

5. Support housing options that provide security of tenure for residents, such as finding ways to make homeownership more attainable and supporting the development of co-operative housing as an alternative to renting.

Why we are proposing these policies

• Co-operative housing offers more security of tenure to residents, which reduces the risk of people having to move between rental homes frequently.
• Home ownership is the most secure form of tenure. If there are more affordable options for people to own homes, it will reduce pressure on the rental market.

Policy directions

6. Continue to protect and grow the supply of rental housing in Burnaby.

7. Continue to support renters that have to move when the building they live in is redeveloped as part of rezoning.

a) Continue to monitor implementation of Tenant Assistance Policy.

b) Encourage developers to provide culturally appropriate support to Indigenous tenants that have to move when their home is redeveloped or rezoned.

Why we are proposing these policies

• There is growing demand for rental housing. The supply of rental housing also needs to grow to keep prices affordable.
• Protecting existing rental housing will help keep affordable options available to residents and reduce the environmental impact of demolishing and building new housing.
• Tenants are sometimes forced to move when their home is rezoned to enable redevelopment.
• Working with developers to make sure that they are providing support to their tenants reduces tenants’ stress and cost when they need to find a new home.

Policy directions

8. Expand the supply and price range of non-market housing (rental housing rented at below market rates).

a) Update community plans and bylaws to encourage more non-market housing.

b) Continue to lease City-owned land for development of non-market rentals and co-operative housing.

c) Partner with other orders of government, non-profit housing providers and Indigenous housing providers to increase supply of non-market housing.

Why we are proposing these policies

• The Housing Needs Report found that many residents in Burnaby are struggling to afford rental housing.
• Creating more affordable rentals that are below the market price will help residents that can’t find homes in Burnaby.

This survey is administered by the City of Burnaby. Personal information collected and used for the purpose of receiving information regarding the Official Community Plan will be managed in accordance with s. 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected through this survey will remain confidential and de-identified when shared with the public. For questions regarding the collection of Personal Information and receipt of electronic messages please contact: Corporate Communications and Marketing at communications@burnaby.ca.

Housing forms: different structures of housing, such as single- and two- family housing, apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, laneway homes and more.

Co-operative housing: housing where residents become members of a co-operative and own the building or buildings they live in together. This is often more affordable than owning a home individually and has more security than renting a home.

Co-housing: housing where many families and households live together in a close-knit community. Residents own their individual units and share common spaces.

Non-market housing: rental housing that costs less than market rates for rentals in the area.