Colonialism plagues Montreal's housing market

Housing is both a human right and a profitable asset — this is what drives housing to be unattainable for many Montrealers. 

Those with the means to afford multiple homes to place on Montreal's rental market are raising the rent due to the climbing value. But many renters in Montreal are simply trying to seek a permanent roof over their head, avoid renovictions, neglected apartments and rising rents. 

Issues within our housing market aren’t anything new. They were created during colonization, changing land to be viewed as being profited off of, instead of being a human right.

In this episode of Local 514, we look at the connection between colonialism, profiteering and what we can do to move away from viewing housing as a commodity. Local 514 speaks with Ricardo Tranjan, senior economist with the CCPA's Ontario office and Audrey Meubus, who has been saving for a home since she was 25.

In two years alone, Montreal’s rental market has seen huge changes.

Saint-Laurent was noted as having the lowest rent for a one bedroom unfurnished bedroom in 2020, with the average rent listed at $1,233. The same apartment in the SAME neighbourhood now goes for an average of $1,658 as of November 2022.

1.5 million, 900 thousand, 500 thousand, 1 million, 600 thousand – These are some of the prices you’ll be paying for a home on the island of Montreal. 

The average price for homes sold in Montreal reached $557,009 in October 2022. In October 2017, this average was $329,300. 

House prices in Montreal are much cheaper than other places in the country, including Toronto or Vancouver, but many who have saved for years are finding it nearly impossible to buy. Homes they once dreamed of are now far out of their budget. Meubus says she's been priced out of Montreal's housing market. 

So how does colonialism plague Montreal's rental market? Watch the full episode to find out.