Between April 2008 and April 2009, the average apartment vacancy rate increased in all Saskatchewan communities with a population over 10,000 except for two - Regina and Moose Jaw.
According to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's spring rental market survey, apartment vacancies in Moose Jaw dropped to 0.9 per cent in April 2009 from 2.8 per cent in April 2008.
Availability of local one-bedroom apartments fell to 1.2 per cent this year from 4.3 per cent in April 2008. Local two-bedroom apartment availability fell to 0.4 per cent from 0.5 per cent.
There were no local figures for 2009 bachelor suites or three-bedroom apartment vacancy rates, but in 2008, Moose Jaw's bachelor suite vacancy rate was at 14.2 per cent and there were zero three-bedroom apartment units available.
Major Don Law of the Salvation Army told the Times-Herald he believes rental rates in Moose Jaw are actually below 0.9 per cent, due in part to recent apartment building fires that removed a number of rental suites.
"It just makes stress and headaches for the people," he said, adding the overall community does seem to have a long-term desire to create more local rental options.
For more, see Thursday's Times-Herald.
