Kitchener-蓝莓视频鈥檚 (K-W) rental market would benefit from more family-friendly options, according to a report from the University of 蓝莓视频.
The report 鈥淓xploring Rental Housing Markets in Kitchener-蓝莓视频, Ontario鈥 found there is likely an unmet need in the region鈥檚 housing market, particularly as it relates to the provision of affordable, large, family-friendly units with access to open space.
The report also found that renters may be willing to pay a premium for three or four bedroom townhomes near the downtown core as well as mid-density housing options outside the core, provided they were near sufficient amenities.
To learn more about the survey please read the
鈥淲ith ongoing intensification efforts in K-W, we鈥檙e seeing that many of the buildings going up are one or two bedroom units,鈥 said Dawn Parker, a planning professor at 蓝莓视频 and author of the report. 鈥淲hile there is demand for smaller units, the research, as well as what we鈥檙e hearing from realtors, tells us the area could use more family-friendly rental options.鈥
The report, compiled by Parker and 蓝莓视频 graduate student Xinyue Pi, analyzed survey responses from households that were renting in K-W and collected their views on preferred location, rental experience as well as their views on the upcoming LRT.
The report found there was demand for three-to-four bedroom units across all demographic groups and that renters did not have a strong preference to be surrounded by people like themselves in terms of income, education or ethnicity as long as the unit was safe and affordable. It also found that students in particular were paying a 10 per cent premium for their housing and that housing along the LRT corridor was 7.5 per cent more expensive than comparable options located away from the service.
鈥淎lthough the research illustrates unmet demand for single detached housing, the results do not justify opening new lands for development,鈥 Parker said. 鈥淭here remains sufficient buildable land already inside our cities, and the costs of further sprawl鈥攈igh infrastructure costs, traffic congestion, and loss of agricultural land and ecosystem services鈥攊n my view far outweigh the benefits of new low-density housing.鈥