The hits just keep on coming for Estevan's rental market.
According to the recent report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Energy City's vacancy rate is 0.0 per cent. The report also says that Estevan has the highest average rental prices in Saskatchewan by well over $100.
Although not unexpected, the news was the latest blow to anyone looking to rent a place in Estevan. It also remains a major source of concern for City officials who have been working with the provincial government to increase the stock of affordable rental accommodations in Estevan.
"That is one of our biggest tasks ahead of us," said Mayor Roy Ludwig when asked about the CMHC report. "We are having meetings with the (Canadian) Builders Association and with local stakeholders and are tossing ideas out and working those through. But at the end of the day it is going to take money to solve our issues. We are looking to the province, to working with them; with private developers to get some suitable accommodations in place."
Ludwig said the City met with officials from the provincial government last week and both sides are continuing to search for solutions. He said they are looking at ideas and programs which were successful in other centres, but admitted that a true solution to the local troubles might require "a made in Estevan solution."
"We have been trying to work within (the government's) paradigms but we haven't had a lot of success," he said. "We are looking at what else we can do, what other ideas can we come up with. We have taken developers to Regina, we have met with developers in Regina with the ministry and we are somewhat disappointed because we are not getting the shovel in the ground. We may have to think outside the parameters that we are using right now because we really want to be successful in this area."
Ludwig said one of the City's biggest concerns remains the lack of affordable housing. According to the report, the shortage of available accommodations has led to a spike in rent prices with bachelor suites and suites with three or more rooms taking the biggest jump.
Bachelor suites rose from $544 a month to an average of $722. Three or more bedroom properties went from $1,062 to $1,283. One bedroom suites went from $918 to $965 while two bedroom suites increased to $1,143 from $1,104 in 2012.
Estevan's overall average of $1,068 was the runaway leader in Saskatchewan. Saskatoon was the next closest at $932 while Lloydminster was $929. Despite having low vacancy, rent is significantly cheaper in Weyburn with an average of just $782.
"(Affordable housing) is definitely what we need right now," Ludwig said.
Based on figures collected in April, the report lists the vacancy rate in all four categories they chart - bachelor, one, two and three bedrooms - at zero per cent. That is down from April of 2012 when the rate was one per cent.
The lack of rental space was also evident in other communities where oil is a major part of the local economy. In Weyburn, the vacancy rate was 1.1 per cent while in Lloydminster it was also just over one per cent. Regina was also among the lowest in the province at 1.9 per cent. Swift Current had the highest vacancy rate in the province at 8.7 per cent while Prince Albert and North Battleford were second and third respectively.
