There is an urgent need for as many as 110,149 more homes across Quebec, according to a new compilation by the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec, which has identified the hardest-hit areas.
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Paul Cardinal, head of APCHQ
“Some households are currently reluctant to become homeowners due to the lack of properties to sell, the associated overbidding and the unchecked price increases,” warns Paul Cardinal, director of the economic department of the Association of Quebec Building and Housing Professionals (APCHQ).
Although we knew that there was a shortage of more than 110,149 homes across Quebec, the association estimated needs in different metro areas and in certain key metro areas (see table below).
Of the 110,149, more than 15,000 are private rental properties and 58,000 are missing properties for sale. 37,149 households are also waiting for HLM (low income housing) or a supplement to regular rent.
Overall, more than 52% of the 58,000 missing properties for sale are in the Montreal area, or 30,300, APCHQ estimates. 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
If we go into catch-up mode, APCHQ says we need to build 10,000 more homes annually over the next decade, hence the urgency to act.
“The current housing shortage is responsible for rising prices in the resale market as well as upward pressure on rental housing rents. The only way to sustainably reduce real estate overheating is to increase supply,” analyzes APCHQ’s Paul Cardinal.
Three big hurdles
According to the association, three obstacles prevent the development of supply: the shortage of workers, supply problems in connection with the cost-increasing pandemic and interest rates.
In early June, Le Journal pointed out that 24% fewer bungalows are being built than before and that their prices are skyrocketing, some are even predicting the end of the Quebec suburbs as we know them.
At the same time, densification often proves to be difficult in some communities.
Damage from “not in my backyard”
In the Pays du Suroît in Beauharnois, former mayor Bruno Tremblay says he’s sometimes experienced densification the hard way.
“When I was in office, we tried very hard to expand our range of housing through densification. The population doesn’t always like that,” he admits, taking a step back.
“I’m a big believer 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.
90 kilometers away, in Farnham, in Estrie, the housing shortage is a glaring problem, made worse by the health crisis, according to town hall.
“We have a developer who started an affordable housing program, but the pandemic has pushed up material costs so they can only build nine affordable housing units instead of around thirty,” said its mayor, Patrick Melchior.
In his opinion, given their better knowledge of the area, cities should have more leeway to manage housing projects themselves.
“We have expertise. Let the government trust us and we will handle the promoters and the projects,” concludes the man, who also wears the MRC Brome-Missisquoi Prefect’s hat.
♦ Last May, housing starts exceeded 5,525, up 9% from May 2021. This is the first rise after five consecutive monthly declines.
37,149 HOUSEHOLDS WAITING FOR A HLM OR A SUPPLEMENT TO THE STANDARD RENTAL
- Lower St. Laurentius: 446
- Saguenay Lac Saint Jean: 402
- national capital: 1955
- Moritz: 335
- estria: 536
- Montreal: 23,529
- Outaouais: 1052
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue: 324
- north coast : 84
- Northern Quebec: 1165
- Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine: 337
- Chaudiere-Appalachia: 441
- Lava: 1244
- Lanaudiere: 623
- Laurentians: 709
- Monte control: 3676
- Centre-du-Quebec: 291
A DEFICIT OF 15,000 PRIVATE RENTALS
- Montreal Region: 9900
- Quebec Region: 1100
- Region of Gatineau: 600
- Sherbrooke Region: 800
- Trois Rivières region: 100
- Saguenay Region: 200
- Drummondville: 300
- Granny: 280
- Rimouski: 200
- St. Hyacinth: 150
- Alma: 50
- Joliet: 170
- Wolf River: 80
- Rouyn Noranda: 90
- Saint George: 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
- Region of Gatineau: 3800
- Sherbrooke Region: 1500
- Trois Rivières region: 1000
- Saguenay Region: 700
- Drummondville: 500
- Granny: 800
- Rimouski: 400
- St. Hyacinth: 500
- Alma: 200
- joliette 400
- Wolf River: 200
- Rouyn Noranda: 300
- Saint George: 200
- Sorel Tracy: 500
- Salaberry de Valleyfield: 500
- Victoriaville: 300
- Rest of Quebec: 11,300
Source: Quebec Construction and Housing Professionals Association
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