Prince George, B.C.- The rental vacancy  rate in Prince George  has slipped to  3.8%, down from the 4% recorded in  October of last year.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing,  the  average rent for a two bedroom apartment in Prince George is  $754, up from  the $738  mark  during the  fall of 2012 that’s an increase of  about 3%.

The  vacancy rate  shifts a little when  the numbers are  examined in particular areas.  In the downtown area ,  the  vacancy rate has climbed to 5.8%  up from  4.2%.  It is harder to find a  place to rent in the outlying areas as that  vacancy rate has  dropped to  2.7%,  down from 3.9% recorded  in the fall of 2012.

 Affordable housing  was one of the reasons why  Councillors  for the City of Prince George, rejected the idea of  charging  $245 for  properties with a secondary suite.  Although the idea was to  reduce the burden  the  secondary suite tenants place on  city services ( water and sewer),  and to make illegal  suites meet safety requirements, Councillors  said the reality is, landlords  would pass that expense on to their tenants.

Here is how the stats look for Prince George and a couple of our neighbouring communities: ( rents  based on two bedroom units)