The North Vancouver City Council has voted to lift a ban on secondary suites within owner-occupied duplex properties.
The measure is good news for renters who have been occupying an estimated 100 such suites illegally.
Debate on the measure followed similar Council discussions concerning secondary suites. Renters like these units because they offer an affordable housing option, and tend to be located within established residential areas. Councilmembers expressed concern that evicting renters living in illegal suites could spark an uproar.
However, one councilmember who opposed the measure asked that all new suites be inspected for electrical, mould and other problems. That request was defeated.
The new bylaw, number 8296, allows 4-plex suites that contain an least 400 square feet but not more than 969 square feet, or up to 40% of total gross square footage whichever is less. The law also requires landlords to supply each unit with one off-street parking space.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.
