The West Vancouver Legal Secondary Suite Requirements
Bob
What's with all these laws and legal fanatics in the 1st place....
So far they have managed to bankrupt the city with unpaid
loans....(see national debt).....
This is supposed to be a perk?
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The West Vancouver Legal Secondary Suite Requirements
The West Van homeowners or landlords will be only able to rent out a
single suite per lot and must be less than nine hundred and sixty eight
square feet (968 sq ft) and cannot take up more than thirty per cent (30%)
of the total West Vancouver property lot area. In addition to these suite
size requirements by the City of West Vancouver bylaws, the legal
secondary/basement suites much actually be a separate living space that is
private for the resident in addition to having a separate washroom, separate
cooking area (can be full kitchen or kitchenette) as well as a separate
entrance. The legalized West Van secondary basement suite must also have its
own entry way in addition to one off-street parking spot reserved for the
renter.
The current illegal basement suites operating in West Vancouver
rental market will be asked to apply for the appropriate permits that are
part of the new requirement for secondary suites in addition to making sure
that their rental units meet all safety standards as indicated by this new
housing bylaw. Some councilors are unsure about the legalization of the
secondary suites in West Vancouver rental market as the new influx in
population and people migrating into the city will actually not be
contributing in the way of property taxes, but will be exhausting some of
the conveniences, parks, schools, and other city amenities during their time
renting in the city.
However, other councilors indicate that the increase population
caused by the legalization of the West Van secondary suites is on par with
an increase in electricity, power and water, that the current homeowners and
new renters will be paying. In addition, the value of the West Van homes
with secondary suites or basement units for rent is typically higher than
those that don't have this secondary source of income, which obviously
results in higher property taxes to the current home owners. There have been
two public studies done in West Vancouver regarding the legalization of
secondary suites in the city, and both polls have been overly positive in
favor of the legal basement suite bylaw change.
Approximately or seventy five per cent of people interviewed
actually agreed with the housing bylaw change for legal West van secondary
suites during both pools. The City of West Vancouver has also pointed out
that in the Lower Mainland area, only Pitt Meadows, Bowen Island, Langley
and West Van do not permit any sort of legal secondary suites at this time.
The proposed housing bylaw is going to council October 26, 2009 and if it is
a go, it can be passed by the end of the year.
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Nothing much happened on that decision, or does anybody have a cite
to state otherwise.......or did that go like hidden cigarette law in stores!
Don't get caught in your basement workshop, or you'll get fined and
over metered......
Bob