Manitoba’s vacancy rate for seniors units lowest in country

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This article was published 05/06/2017 (3351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The vacancy rate for standard seniors housing units in Manitoba has improved during the past year, but is still the lowest in the country, according to a new survey by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.

In its 2017 Seniors Housing Report released last week, CMHC said Manitoba’s overall vacancy rate has climbed to 4.0 per cent from 2.7 per cent in 2016.

Despite the improvement, its rate was still the lowest among the provinces, said Heather Bowyer, the agency’s senior market analyst for Manitoba. British Columbia had the second-lowest rate, at 4.5 per cent.

Manitoba’s overall rate also remains more than a half a percentage point below where it was in 2015, when it was 4.6 per cent.

The agency said Winnipeg’s vacancy rate remains well less than the provincial rate, at 2.5 per cent.

The vacancy rate numbers are based on the results of a survey of 42 seniors’ residences, including 33 in Winnipeg. Seniors residences typically offer a number of amenities and services not generally found in regular rental units. They can include things such as medical services, on-site meal plans, various entertainment and recreational activities, a 24-hour call-bell service and a transportation service.

CMHC defines a standard seniors unit as one in which the resident is paying market rent and receives less than 1.5 hours of care per day. Nursing homes and long-term care homes, which provide higher levels of health care, are not included in the survey.

The main reason for the rise in the provincial vacancy rate was the addition of 221 new standard seniors units in the last year. That boosted the total provincial inventory to 4,395 units.

But, in addition to more units being added, there was also an increase in the number of Manitobans living in seniors facilities. That number grew by 5.2 per cent to 4,751 from 4,515 in 2016.

“So, we’re seeing an increase… in the supply and an increase in the demand in the Manitoba area,” Bowyer said.

The survey found the average monthly rent for any type of standard seniors space in Manitoba increased in the past year, climbing to $2,686 from $2,580 in 2016. Rates ranged from $2,101 for a bachelor suite to $3,130 for suites with two or more bedrooms

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca