In British Columbia, a local government may enter into a Housing Agreement and register a covenant on title to supply affordable housing or special needs housing by imposing requirements on the user of the land. Although this legislative tool has been available since 1993, the frequency and method of its implementation through planning and development has been highly variable across local jurisdictions.
With support and assistance from BC Housing, Metro Vancouver engaged CitySpaces Consulting to conduct research and key informant interviews. The objective was to gather expertise from planners and policymakers, non-profit housing funders and operators, the development industry, and legal experts around the use and effectiveness of Housing Agreements as a tool to secure affordable housing. By sharing best practices and lessons learned from these collective experiences, the goal is to build knowledge and capacity so that planning and policy practitioners can feel confident employing Housing Agreements across the region.
Intended to be used as a Resource Guide for Metro Vancouver member jurisdictions when developing and implementing Housing Agreements in their respective communities, the document presents research findings and best practices in thematic sections. Whether the reader is involved in drafting, administering, or monitoring Housing Agreements in their scope of work, the guide is a valuable capacity-building resource for both new and experienced planners alike.
Titled What Works: Securing Affordable and Special Needs Housing through Housing Agreements, the Resource Guide provides an overview of the legislative and functional contexts, typical structure and scenarios, step-by-step process, success factors, key considerations, common challenges, potential solutions, and sample agreements for reference. The information provided in this guide is further strengthened by legal review from Young Anderson Barristers and Solicitors.
