Hidden Housing: People Are Creating Their Own Idiosyncratic Solutions

Vancouver Magazine takes a look at the many ways people create their own housing solutions outside the norm, from mortgage sharing to garage renovations to illegal units.

1 minute read

August 19, 2008, 2:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"Planners call laneway housing 'hidden' density. In the case of secondary suites, they speak of 'invisible' density. No one knows how many invisible housing units there are in the city; but the number on the books represents only a small fraction of what's out there. Tsur Somerville, director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate, is planning to do the first survey using census data. On his block alone, he reckons, at least half the houses have at least one secondary suite. Most are illegal.

Right now, the process needed to make a suite legal is time-consuming, and building-code requirements can be expensive and seem arbitrary and superfluous-especially when there's a lineup of renters who don't care about the bureaucratic details. But it's illegal to have more than one secondary suite, which is why François (pictured here) requested a pseudonym. He rents a converted barn in the backyard of an East Vancouver house that is itself divided into three suites-a fact his landlord understandably likes to keep quiet. 'We fell in love with it,' François says of the two-storey space, which has its own large deck and lots of skylights. It's smaller than most one-bedroom apartments, but has 'many advantages.' It's quiet, it's surrounded by greenery, and it's unique. "Plus, sometimes small is good-it makes you realize how little you need.'"

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 in Vancouver Magazine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2 - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

May 2 - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

May 2 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO