Maple Ridge purpose-built rental survey
Happy Cities led engagement to help the City of Maple Ridge identify priorities for renter support and policy.
Maple Ridge. (City of Maple Ridge)
Renter-focused housing policy and protections
The City of Maple Ridge wanted to better understand who lives in purpose-built rental buildings, and priorities are most important to these residents. Through an online and on-the-ground survey, Happy Cities reached out to renters to gather stories and data that will guide the City’s next steps in renter support and housing policy.
Why purpose‑built rental matters
Purpose‑built rental buildings are dedicated rental homes, such as apartments or co‑ops that aren’t individually owned or sold. Property managers typically take care of these buildings.
As of early 2026, Maple Ridge has 52 purpose-built rental buildings, most of which are clustered in the Town Centre area. These homes provide long-term security for a mix of residents—including students, families, and older adults—in a region experiencing rising housing demand and redevelopment pressure.
Engagement as research
To reach as many voices as possible, we took engagement directly to tenants. Every renter in the City’s purpose‑built rental buildings—more than 2,200 households—was invited to participate.
For a broad reach sample, we used direct-mail postcards, on-site posters, social media promotion, and open online surveys to reach as many renters as possible (with voluntary participation and survey prizes). On-site outreach was conducted at all sites that had two or more purpose-built rental buildings.
Our engagement approach balanced statistical rigour with practical research considerations, aiming to collect responses that reflected the diversity of buildings and neighbourhoods across Maple Ridge. Findings were presented to the City to help inform future tenant protection policies and support renters who may be impacted by development in the future.
Poster on site at a rental building in Maple Ridge. (Happy Cities)
Maple Ridge housing policy
Currently, the City’s Housing Action Plan & Housing Needs Report identifies key challenges for renters, including rising demand and aging building stock.
To protect renters, the City has a Tenant Relocation Assistance Policy (2023). This policy requires early communication, financial compensation, relocation support (including moving expenses and help finding comparable housing), a tenant relocation coordinator, and a right of first refusal for new rental units.
This policy is triggered through rezoning applications. But because many new projects now proceed without rezoning, and permitted density within the Town Centre is high, the policy doesn’t always apply.
By listening to Maple Ridge renters today, the City is building a foundation for housing policies that keep people’s wellbeing at the centre of growth.
Learn more about renter protections
All renters in B.C. are protected by the Residential Tenancy Act. But local policies can go further—helping people stay rooted in their communities as the region evolves.
Several cities in Metro Vancouver have bylaws that give additional rights to tenants that are above and beyond the BC Residential Tenancy Act. For example, Burnaby is updating its Tenant Assistance Policy to extend protections to tenants outside of the rezoning process.
