Seniors BC - Housing - Rental and Affordable Housing

Rental and Affordable Housing

Shelter costs can be your biggest expense, whatever your age. Eligible seniors who rent their homes can receive financial assistance from the B.C. Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program.

Tenants and renters who have conflicts with their landlords, or who have questions about their rights and responsibilities, can get help from the province’s Residential Tenancy Branch.

Living in affordable, modified residential units can be another option for eligible low-income seniors who do not need special support services or home-care assistance. Sometimes known as “subsidized housing,” affordable housing comes in two types: public housing and non-profit/co-op housing.

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program

You may want to stay in your current apartment or other rental residence, but find it difficult to pay your rent. The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program provides monthly cash payments to eligible British Columbia seniors. You may be eligible if you meet all of the following conditions:

You are age 60 years or older;
You pay rent for your home, including a pad rental for a manufactured home (trailer) that you own and occupy;
You pay more than 30 per cent of your gross (before tax) monthly household income for rent;
You are a Canadian citizen, or authorized to take up permanent residence in Canada, or a Convention refugee;
You have lived in British Columbia for the full 12 months immediately preceding when you apply.

Visit BC Housing to learn more about the SAFER program and download the application forms.

Residential Tenancy Branch: Resolving Landlord–Tenant Disputes

If you have problems with repairs, evictions, security deposits or other landlord/tenant issues, the Province’s Residential Tenancy Branch can help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancy Act and the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act.

Other Affordable Housing

Along with the SAFER program (which offers monthly cash payments to help eligible seniors pay their rent) there are other options that make housing more affordable.

There are different types of affordable housing (also called subsidized housing): public housing, non-profit housing and co-op housing.

Public housing

Public housing in British Columbia is managed by BC Housing, which operates a Housing Registry listing and application service. The Registry includes public housing plus some non-profit and co-op housing providers.

Visit BC Housing to learn how to apply and download the application forms.

Non-profit and co-op housing

Most non-profit and co-op housing developments maintain their own registries and applications.

You can download a listing of all the subsidized non-profit and co-op housing developments in the province by visiting BC Housing’s Housing Listings resource directory.

For more information about co-op housing, visit the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC. They keep an up-to-date listing of co-op housing developments in the province, plus application information.

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