Whitehorse rents reach record high

The Yukon Bureau of Statistics reports the median rent in Whitehorse last month was $825the highest on record for the city.

The figures also show that the rental housing vacancy rate in Whitehorse was 1.3 per cent last month, up slightly from one per cent in March 2011. Out of 1,010 rentalapartments surveyed, 13 were vacant.

The statistics do not count legal suites, rooms-for-let in homes or outbuildings for rent.

Porter Creek edged out Riverdale for the first time as the priciest Whitehorse neighbourhood. The median rent in Porter Creek in March was $900, compared to $875 in Riverdale. Upper Whitehorse had the lowest median rent at $750.

Marcel Gareau, who rents out a summer guest room, two rooms in his house and a suite in his basement, said he disagrees with claims that there are few places for rent in Whitehorse.

"The people who have a rental problem, usually it's because they don't have a good rental history themselves," he said.

"I look for quality tenants. I look for people who are extremely responsible, that have good credit ratings and such."

Gareau said last year while the tent city affordable housing protest was in full swing, he had empty rooms in his house.