Saskatchewan renters prioritize affordable housing in latest election: Survey

A survey conducted by Rentals.ca highlighted a divide among Saskatchewan renters as the province was about to head into its election.

With housing affordability and rental policies having the spotlight, the survey revealed renters’ concerns as well as their potential influence on voting decisions, and predicted that housing issues would likely play an important role in shaping the election outcome.

The survey, which polled renters across Saskatchewan, revealed that 78.23 per cent of respondents identified high rental prices as the most important issue in the current rental market. A total of 87.60 per cent believed there were not enough affordable housing options in their area, highlighting the urgency of addressing housing affordability in the province.

“It’s refreshing to see that renters are split, considering the NDP’s platform has promised protections for renters via Rent Control or rent increase caps,” said Max Steinman, CEO of Rentals.ca. “It shows that Saskatchewan residents have a balanced understanding of the potentially harmful impacts that rent control has in the long-term to overall housing supply and investment and upkeep in housing stock.”

When asked about the key policy areas candidates should focus on, almost half, or 48.78 per cent, pointed to affordable housing options for low-income renters as a priority. This was followed by 19.51 per cent supporting rent control policies. A total of 60.48 per cent also stated that rental housing policies will be a very important factor when deciding who to vote for.

Aditionally, at the time the survey was conducted, there was an almost even split between the two leading political parties. The Saskatchewan Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP) each garnered 29.91 per cent of respondents’ intended votes. However, at the time, a notable 28.21 per cent of renters said that they did not plan on voting.

As renters continue to voice concerns over the rising cost of living and housing, policymakers face more pressures to address the challenges. The results from the survey emphasized that rental housing policies would likely be a decisive factor for many voters.