Region needs more duplexes, triplexes

The City of Windsor and nearby towns of Lakeshore, Essex, Kingsville and Leamington need to facilitate the building of duplexes and triplexes. I am saying this, not as a tenant, but as a previous landlord. I am alarmed at how difficult it is to build a multi-unit property without running into red tape.

Most areas allow multi-unit dwellings that are either semis or townhouses but not duplexes or triplexes. This is unfortunate as this would be the perfect opportunity to solve the issue of the rental housing shortage. An increased housing supply would bring down rents to tenants while increasing revenues to landlords.

Let me explain. Currently, an older two-bedroom home with no finished basement rents for about $1,800. That is astronomical for most people. I can’t imagine what kind of future my children will face when they need to leave the nest. Building a duplex would allow a basement apartment to rent for $1,400 in addition to the larger upper level renting for $1,600/month. This makes total rent revenues of up to $3,000/month for a landlord while allowing tenants newer, nicer and larger units for less. The rent revenues would help offset the carrying costs of landlords. A triplex would, of course, be even more advantageous.

Most single-family homeowners secretly do not wish to have a duplex in their area as they fear house values will decrease. Sure there are a few bad tenants and a few bad landlords, but the reason why most slumlords exist is due to bylaws that discourage the building of new, affordable housing.

By increasing the supply, rents will become more affordable and investment opportunities will be more profitable. Win-win. What is our region waiting for?

Randa Odeh Bastouli, Leamington