There is an urgent need for a good 110,149 more homes across Quebec, reveals a new compilation from the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec, which has identified the most affected areas.
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Paul Cardinal, director of the economic department at the APCHQ
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“Some households are currently giving up on becoming homeowners due to the lack of properties for sale, the overbidding that this entails and the unbridled rise in prices,” warns Paul Cardinal, director of the economic department of the Association of construction professionals and Housing of Quebec (APCHQ).
While it was known that more than 110,149 dwellings were missing across Quebec, the association estimated the needs in the various metropolitan areas and in certain key agglomerations (see table below).
Of the 110,149, more than 15,000 are private rental properties and 58,000 are missing properties for sale. Some 37,149 households are also waiting for a HLM (low-income housing) or a supplement to the regular rent.
In total, more than 52% of the 58,000 missing properties for sale are in the Montreal region, or 30,300, assesses the APCHQ. There is a deficit of 4,600 properties in the Quebec region and 3,800 in the Gatineau region.
At least 10,000 more per year
According to the APCHQ, if we go into catch-up mode, we will have to build 10,000 more dwellings per year for the next ten years, hence the urgency to act.
“The current housing shortage is responsible for soaring prices in the resale market as well as upward pressure on rental housing rents. The only way to sustainably reduce overheating in real estate is to increase supply,” analyzes Paul Cardinal of the APCHQ.
Three big hurdles
According to the association, three obstacles prevent the development of supply: the lack of labour, supply problems linked to the pandemic, which is driving up costs, and interest rates.
Early June, The newspaper pointed out that 24% fewer bungalows are being built than before and that their prices are exploding so much that some even see the end of the Quebec suburbs as we know it.
At the same time, densification often still proves laborious in several municipalities.
Misdeeds of “not in my backyard”
In the Pays du Suroît, in Beauharnois, former mayor Bruno Tremblay says he sometimes experienced densification the hard way.
“When I was in office, we tried very hard to develop our residential offer by increasing the density. It does not always please the population, ”he concedes with a step back.
“I firmly believe in densification for environmental reasons and to organize public transport, but we still have the step syndrome in my backyard. It’s difficult,” he breathes.
Francis Halin
Bruno Tremblay
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90 kilometers away, in Farnham, in Estrie, the lack of housing is a crying issue, which has been exacerbated with the health crisis, according to the town hall.
“We have a developer who started with an affordable housing program, but the pandemic has caused material costs to skyrocket, so instead of having around thirty affordable housing units, he can just do nine”, illustrates his mayor, Patrick Melchior.
According to him, cities should have more latitude to manage residential projects themselves, given their better knowledge of the territory.
“We have the field expertise. Let the government trust us and we will manage with the promoters and the projects, ”concludes the one who also wears the hat of prefect of the MRC Brome-Missisquoi.
♦ Last May, housing starts exceeded 5,525, which corresponds to a jump of 9% compared to May 2021. This is the first increase after five consecutive monthly declines.
37,149 HOUSEHOLDS WAITING FOR A HLM OR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE REGULAR RENT
- Lower St. Lawrence: 446
- Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean: 402
- National Capital: 1955
- Mauricie: 335
- Estrie: 536
- Montréal : 23 529
- Outaouais: 1052
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue: 324
- North Coast : 84
- Northern Quebec: 1165
- Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine: 337
- Chaudiere-Appalaches: 441
- Laval : 1244
- Lanaudiere: 623
- Laurentians: 709
- Monteregie: 3676
- Centre-du-Quebec: 291
A DEFICIT OF 15,000 PRIVATE RENTAL HOUSING
- Montreal region: 9900
- Quebec region: 1100
- Gatineau region: 600
- Sherbrooke region: 800
- Trois-Rivières region: 100
- Saguenay region: 200
- Drummondville: 300
- Granby : 280
- Rimouski: 200
- St. Hyacinthe: 150
- Alma : 50
- Joliet: 170
- Wolf River : 80
- Rouyn Noranda: 90
- Saint Georges : 80
- Sorel-Tracy : 70
- Salaberry-de-Valleyfield : 140
- Victoriaville: 120
- Rest of Quebec: 570
A DEFICIT OF 58,000 PROPERTIES FOR SALE
- Montreal region: 30 300
- Quebec region: 4600
- Gatineau region: 3800
- Sherbrooke region: 1500
- Trois-Rivières region: 1000
- Saguenay region: 700
- Drummondville: 500
- Granby : 800
- Rimouski: 400
- St. Hyacinthe: 500
- Alma : 200
- Joliette 400
- Wolf River : 200
- Rouyn Noranda: 300
- Saint Georges : 200
- Sorel-Tracy : 500
- Salaberry-de-Valleyfield : 500
- Victoriaville: 300
- Rest of Quebec: 11 300
Source: Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec
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