REAL ESTATE

Muskoka's Future Housing Supply 
by Darryl McCullough

Statistics show that approximately half of the permanent housing stock in Muskoka was more than 30 years old in 1996, indicating that problems typical of aging dwellings may be emerging. About 40% of the housing stock was considered to be in need of repair, with 10% reporting a need for major repair.

  Recent years have seen higher levels of housing production in Muskoka. Almost all of this recent production has been has been in the form of single detached dwellings, with very little multiple housing being built anywhere in Muskoka. This trend in continuing.

  The 1996 Census of rental housing supply in Muskoka reflected that almost 41% was in the form of single detached units being rented out by their owners. Given the almost complete lack of new rental production in recent years, it is likely that the percentage of rental dwellings has declined since 1996, due to homeowners deciding to take rental units out of the marketplace for their own use.

  Housing challenges are also being faced in such areas as Public/Non Profit Housing; Special Needs Housing; Housing for persons with physical & mental needs; Senoirs Housing (including social housing, private retirement homes, long term care etc.); Emergency Housing etc.

Future Housing Supply Summary Conclusions

Almost 83% of all housing stock in Muskoka is comprised of single detached dwellings. Almost 95% of all housing produced in recent years in Muskoka has been single detached dwellings, with very little multiple housing being built anywhere in Muskoka, despite the demonstrated need for more affordable housing.

  Approximately 75% of all housing in Muskoka is occupied by ownership households and none of the new housing starts in 2000 and 2001 were for rental housing.

  About one-half of the existing housing stock in Muskoka is more than 30 years old, with about 40% of the housing stock considered to be in need of repair and 10% needing major repairs. These dwellings play an important role in providing low-cost accommodation for local residents and measures may need to be considered to address the state of repair.

  During the five-year period 1996 to 2000, between 87% and 100% of all building permits issued in the District were for single family dwellings. The average assessed value of building permits were from $105,000 to $219,000, excluding land costs. Given that 40% of households in Muskoka have incomes of less than $30,000, the new housing that is being produced is most likely not affordable to many of these households.

  The development and building industry has indicated that given the current cost to construct new dwellings in Muskoka, the housing needs of the low to modest income earners cannot be met.

  The higher return on investment of building large seasonal dwellings has resulted in little incentive for many builders and developers to pursue the development of housing for local permanent residents.

  Almost 40% of the rental housing supply in Muskoka is in the form of single detached units being rented out by their owners. This represents an unstable supply, and individual owners can decide to withdraw such units from the rental market at any time for personal reasons,

  There is increasing difficulty in finding adequate, affordable rental housing in Muskoka.

  Special needs housing is in short supply for certain individuals requiring support; in particular, persons with developmental delays, persons with mental illness and persons with physical disability/mobility impairment.

  Housing for homeless individuals and others accessing emergency housing units is also very limited in Muskoka, due to the increased volume of emergency housing situations experienced by Muskoka’s disenfranchised residents.

Conclusion

Being the optimists we are, the above data reflects opportunity for creative solutions through co-operation between the private and public sectors of Muskoka.