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  Unmet needs in Fredericton

  by Alex Nelson , over 1 year ago
  Rent control is a serious need. Any apartment complex I've lived in will raise the rent (with proper notice) every year, by as much as they can. I'm well aware that if I'm moving out, that apartment cost will jump 250-500$.

  
  

  Pet friendly living is a need. No fees. No extra rent. I am responsible for the damage done to this apartment, no matter what the source. Anecdotally, I'd say about 5-10% of rentals are pet friendly, and the number is lower for dogs (as opposed to cats)

  
  

  Finally, affordable housing is an emergent need. With a growing population and... Continue reading

  Rent control is a serious need. Any apartment complex I've lived in will raise the rent (with proper notice) every year, by as much as they can. I'm well aware that if I'm moving out, that apartment cost will jump 250-500$.

  
  

  Pet friendly living is a need. No fees. No extra rent. I am responsible for the damage done to this apartment, no matter what the source. Anecdotally, I'd say about 5-10% of rentals are pet friendly, and the number is lower for dogs (as opposed to cats)

  
  

  Finally, affordable housing is an emergent need. With a growing population and shrinking land availability, it doesn't matter how many $3000/month apartments you build when people are struggling to fill the fridge.
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  Find an appropiate place for me and my family

  by Gabriel M, over 1 year ago

  Hi, I live in Southside, near Fredericton High School (FHS), in a small two-bedroom basement apartment with my wife and two daughters. We recently became permanent residents. We love living in Fredericton, particularly our current location due to its proximity to our jobs, one daughter's school, and the upcoming university studies of our other daughter at UNB.

  However, we're seeking a more spacious living arrangement, which is currently beyond our budget. With a combined salary around $50,000, a significant portion of our income goes towards rent. Our goal is to remain in this area to minimize commuting time and costs... Continue reading

  Hi, I live in Southside, near Fredericton High School (FHS), in a small two-bedroom basement apartment with my wife and two daughters. We recently became permanent residents. We love living in Fredericton, particularly our current location due to its proximity to our jobs, one daughter's school, and the upcoming university studies of our other daughter at UNB.

  However, we're seeking a more spacious living arrangement, which is currently beyond our budget. With a combined salary around $50,000, a significant portion of our income goes towards rent. Our goal is to remain in this area to minimize commuting time and costs, but the high rental market makes it challenging. We hope to eventually buy a house nearby, but that's not feasible at this time.
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  Fear of rejection in the housing rental market

  by Matthew Bolanle, over 1 year ago
  Transitioning from grad school days shared house accommodation as an international student living alone to a 3-odd-room family duplex was a nightmarish experience for me. Just before I was expecting my family to join me, it was a herculean task finding a suitable accommodation. I witnessed many house owners' initial enthusiasms dimmed as soon as I mentioned my 4 kids. They suddenly become unfriendly, not willing to give out their house to supposedly unknown occupants. Some expressed their sentiments about our ability to afford rents even after showing proof of consistent financial responsibility.

  
  

  By the time a certain couple agreed... Continue reading

  Transitioning from grad school days shared house accommodation as an international student living alone to a 3-odd-room family duplex was a nightmarish experience for me. Just before I was expecting my family to join me, it was a herculean task finding a suitable accommodation. I witnessed many house owners' initial enthusiasms dimmed as soon as I mentioned my 4 kids. They suddenly become unfriendly, not willing to give out their house to supposedly unknown occupants. Some expressed their sentiments about our ability to afford rents even after showing proof of consistent financial responsibility.

  
  

  By the time a certain couple agreed to rent their property to us, we had no say at their negotiation table. We had to accept excess terms just to have a roof over our heads. This included making do with small rooms with no provision for leg space not to talk of reading table for the children. The kids are not comfortable and we too make do with what is available for their self study and comfort. It is not an easy task dealing with mould and poor heating and ventilation system. In summary, it is not the best of living. For the fact that we remain grateful to the home owners for being the only ones who accommodated us, we kept our complaints to the barest minimum.

  We are not looking forward to finding another rental house for our family. As a matter of fact, I am afraid to go through the rejections and discrimination suffered largely due to the family size.

  We are working hard, and setting some aside for a chance of owning our own home. We dont expect to pay more for a suitable 3 room house. We will be grateful if supported to have our own space without fear of being stuck and with adequate space for our daily living. THANKS.
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  Stuck in the rental market because you can't afford to get out

  by Shannon Cornelius, over 1 year ago
  I'm a middle-class income, single person, but even with a good job, after I pay my rent and all my other expenses, I have nothing left over to save for a down payment on a house. I've considered trying to find a roommate to help cut costs, but because I work from home and need a dedicated office space, I would need to move to a three-bedroom unit. With the costs of rent, even with a roommate I'm basically going to be paying the same amount I am now. Plus I'd have to hope they too don't need a second... Continue reading

  I'm a middle-class income, single person, but even with a good job, after I pay my rent and all my other expenses, I have nothing left over to save for a down payment on a house. I've considered trying to find a roommate to help cut costs, but because I work from home and need a dedicated office space, I would need to move to a three-bedroom unit. With the costs of rent, even with a roommate I'm basically going to be paying the same amount I am now. Plus I'd have to hope they too don't need a second room for work. How is one supposed to get out of the rental market when they can't afford to save up for a house? I've spoken to people who have said their mortgage, insurance and taxes combined are less than my current rent so if I could get a house I would be able to save and do so much more, but I can't because I can't save for the down payment.
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  Never Ending Battle

  by Robyn Gamble-Carr, over 1 year ago
  I'm not even sure where to start. I am the mama to 4 little girls and I would like to go back to school as soon as I can. Housing has become my every day nightmare. Almost 4 years ago we finally got the opportunity for our dream home. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was all we needed. It was a 4 bedroom mini home, which was affordable, and we were going to rent to own. Well, things went a different way during my landlord's divorce settlement and she lost the home. The ex husband wanted to sell, which... Continue reading

  I'm not even sure where to start. I am the mama to 4 little girls and I would like to go back to school as soon as I can. Housing has become my every day nightmare. Almost 4 years ago we finally got the opportunity for our dream home. It wasn't anything extravagant, but it was all we needed. It was a 4 bedroom mini home, which was affordable, and we were going to rent to own. Well, things went a different way during my landlord's divorce settlement and she lost the home. The ex husband wanted to sell, which wasn't in the cards for us. So we had very limited time to find a new place to call home. So I had to take the first option available, a very small, top floor, two bedroom apartment. We have 3 of our girls in one very small bedroom, our 1 year old is in the room with my fiance and I. We aren't allowed to use to storage units here, so all of our belongings are in totes and taking up more space in the small apartment. There is one washer and one dryer, for 6 units, at $7 per load. Two of my electrical outlets don't work and I've had a broken window for almost two years now, the property managers do nothing about it.

  In the almost 4 years I have been living here, I have gone and viewed 17 different homes with the space we desperately need. All of them have had one reason or another to deny us. We have been trying to save up, as we don't have the kind of money these landlord's are asking for. Between rental costs, groceries, utilities and other expenses, there is barely room to live, let alone save. As soon as I mention the possibility of subsidized rent or the fact that we are currently and unfortunately on social assistance. My fiance is a roofer and carpenter, with not having storage here we have to pay for a storage unit just for all my fiancé's tools and work supplies.

  I am so exhausted, I am so frustrated, this is now affecting all of our mental health in our home. My oldest daughter (10 years old) is currently being tested for ADHD and tourettes, which her doctor has said is now greatly affecting her. She needs to be able to have her own space to escape to, and right now she is forced to share that space, that very small space, with everyone else.

  I apologize for the length of this and unfortunately this is actually extremely condensed. I could honestly continue for another 2000 plus words.

  Long story short, we can't afford these rental prices, plus full damage deposits in that same amount. Too many family homes are being rented out to groups of students so landlord's can get more money. We have been denied so many places simply for having children. I'm not sure how much longer my mental health will hold out with this battle. And I know this is a battle many, many, people in Fredericton are facing.