The GNWT has updated the rent scale for Market Rental Units. Notices are currently being sent to tenants in market housing units by May 1st outlining a 90-day notice of rent increase. Market rental rates remained stable since 2012, however recent years of sustained inflation now necessitates an adjustment in line with current market conditions and to reflect operating costs. These rent adjustments will help to equalize the market rate gaps in communities where market conditions require private landlords and developers to charge higher rates. By adjusting the rates to align with average market rates, these changes will also facilitate market housing opportunities for Indigenous Governments and private landlords that want to enter the market.

The Market Housing Program provides additional housing options in smaller communities outside the main regional centres of Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife. In non-market communities, limited housing options can contribute to staff shortages. Market Rental Units are intended to increase the availability of housing in smaller communities for community workers. Increasingly, other developers including Indigenous governments and their development corporations and businesses are providing market housing, expanding options in communities.

Market housing rental units are owned/leased by Housing NWT and are administered and managed by the community’s Local Housing Organization (LHO). The LHOs, under agreement with Housing NWT, provide property management services including the allocation of units, the collection of rents, and the provision of preventative and demand maintenance services.

Housing NWT is dedicated to offering fair access to quality housing for community workers and promoting economic stability in areas with few private rental options.

Why the adjustments are needed:

Since the introduction of the market housing rent scale in 2012, rental rates have remained unchanged while the cost of operating, utilities and maintaining units, has increased dramatically over the last 13 years. The increases are based on review of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) 2023 annual report and a scan of the 2023 Yellowknife market rental rates to ensure alignment with the private market.

Quick Facts:

• Notices are currently being sent to tenants in market housing units by May 1st outlining a 90-day notice of rent increase.
• Housing NWT has updated the Market Rental Unit rent scale based on CMHC’s annual report and a scan of market rental rates. The updated rates are based on the average market rental rates from this report, with a reduction adjustment of 10% to ensure they are more affordable than average.

• Rent revenue is crucial for program funding to help Housing NWT maintain the quality and sustainability of the Market Housing Program.

These homes are for people residing in communities with limited housing options. This includes RCMP, nurses, teachers, and other critical workers.

• For more information about the rental adjustments or the Market Housing Program, please visit Housing NWT Website or contact your Local Housing Organization

Quotes:

"The GNWT is dedicated to providing affordable housing options that support the essential workers who contribute to the vibrancy of our smaller communities. These adjustments are a responsible step to support the development of housing market capacity and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our market housing program, allowing us to continue offering quality homes for those who need them most."

- Lucy Kuptana, Minister Responsible for Housing NWT

For media requests, please contact:
Jeanne Gard
Manager, Communications
Housing Northwest Territories
Government of the Northwest Territories
NWTHC_Comms@gov.nt.ca