As municipal and provincial regulations clamp down on Airbnb and other short-term rental operators, rent costs are dropping ‘significantly.’
Rent costs in several British Columbia communities dropped ‘significantly’ after local governments imposed stricter regulations on short-term rentals. “The rents as of October, 2023, were lower by $110 a month compared with the previous year in 52 key neighbourhoods – down to $1,821 from $1,931 – according to a statistical analysis by McGill University associate professor David Wachsmuth and researcher Cloé St.-Hilaire. In Vancouver, it is $147 a month less on average,” writes Frances Bula in The Globe and Mail.
In addition to local regulations, new provincial laws went into effect this May in B.C. cities of over 10,000 people not classified as ‘resort communities.’ “They limit owners to renting out space in their principal residence only if the owner is away for a short period of time or is renting out a room while continuing to live there.” Similar laws have been in place in Vancouver and other cities, but the provincial regulations represent the largest-scale effort to regulate STRs.
FULL STORY: Rent in B.C. communities declined after short-term vacation home rules were implemented, report finds
Barcelona Buys Building to Prevent Tenant Evictions
One apartment building — and its tenants who faced eviction — became a potent symbol of the city’s growing housing crisis.
Rents Rose Between December and January
After dropping to a three-year low, U.S. rent costs grew in many major cities.
US Rental Housing Prices Hit Three Year Low — and Still Out of Reach
The gap between median rental prices and incomes is shrinking in the US, but still falls short of affordability.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research