What is an Affordable Housing Strategy

    The Affordable Housing Strategy helps define: recommendations, policies, directions, priorities, definitions and annual targets for affordable housing.


Phase 1 FAQs

    What is an affordable housing strategy?

    The City of Richmond's Affordable Housing Strategy defines:

    • recommendations, policies, directions, priorities, definitions and annual targets for affordable housing.
    • the City’s three key priorities to address the need for affordable housing in Richmond, as outlined in the table below.


    How does the city define Affordable?

    The City follows the practice widely adopted in North America and Commonwealth countries to define when housing is affordable. It is when tenants/owners do not have to spend more than 30 per cent of their gross income on housing costs (excluding utility fees, telephone, internet, cablevision and the like).

    What is a secondary suite?

    A Secondary Suite is an additional dwelling unit located in and is part of a residential building that is a single real estate entity. 
    The Suite must not have more than 90m² (970 sq. ft.) of total floor space and less than 40% of the residential floor space of the building.

    Image source: http://www.rdn.bc.ca/cms.asp?wpID=3040

    What is a coach house?

    A coach house is a detached, self contained dwelling located beside and above the garage accessed by a lane in the rear yard of a single family residential lot. 

    (See image E. in the above picture)