All the best from the ‘wet coast’.

Regards – Don & Patty

e-mail sent.

Not to be impatient, but you should get in touch with me. It’s Sunday. I’m not working again until Thursday, and I have some information I think you’d like to know (and at the same time, you can help me).

There is no way, unless the seller or the seller’s agent are willing to tell you.

Thanks for the kind words and thank you for reading.

George has a job that requires some travel and I think it’s difficult for him to get here when he’s away.

I never formerly introduced myself, but have posted a few times. I’m originally from Florida, but have spent the last six years in Regina. Why you ask? You’ll have to ask my wife who has lived here all her life. I’ved watched this property/commodity/equity runup over the years and it is without a shadow of a doubt bubble mania. Unfortunately, this province is not immune.

I appreciate everyone who posts and wonder where George has been? You know, everyone has a point of view, so lets take it all in and respect one another. Peace.

Sask. gets $25 million for innovation and economic development

http://tinyurl.com/cbcgbq

The provincial government will match those funds, for a total investment of $50 million.

(Ah, yes: the logic of not having rent controls. [shakes head])

That’s what Saskatchewan badly needs, but will never get: managed rent increase legislation of some [ANY] kind. *Some* sort of sanity so landlords can’t just raise the rent to whatever level they want without any justification.

If there are no clear terms, then the landlord shouldn’t be able to implement a new rule like extra rent for extra people without some notice. I’ve been in that situation, where I was presented with a RETROACTIVE $50/month ‘utility fee’ for the air conditioner I’d installed months previously to try to keep my naturally +40C apartment in the +30′s. I refused to pay, since it was never mentioned and was not in the terms of our agreement, so I (and only I) was then handed notice of an equivalent rent increase. I moved out soon after it took effect. Too bad for them… I paid my rent with post-dated cheques, got rid of the cockroaches in my unit (that I was told about the day I moved in), and never caused any maintenance or noise problems. Landlords often infringe on tenant’s rights, intentionally or not. Here’s some more reading:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/fash/fash_012.cfm

It’s good to know your rights, but try to be diplomatic; you may win this battle, only to find that the landlord exercises his right to raise the rent with notice. With no rent control in place, you may find that your rent increase is unreasonable if the landlord is ticked off with you.

Sorry, for you Avid, everything is awesome. Saskatoon does not lead Canada in violent crime, has every bit as much services as bigger more affordable cities and housing prices must have bottomed out because other realtors tell us to buy now or be “sorry”! Maybe you should hang out at the Chamber of Commerce if you want always positive, though often inaccurate, boosters.

Check to see if there are any regulations associated with the Act. Usually Acts are sparse on specifics; the details are spelled out in Regulations.

Good luck!

Radio Gal,

I’ll drop you a line this weekend.

If there is no clear terms in the lease about how much should be charged for the additional occupant, can the manager decide the amount just as s/he likes?

Otherwise, if your lease doesn’t set specific limits, the wording of the act is pretty vague, saying that the landlord has the right to limit occupancy to a ‘resonable’ number, but cannot refuse to allow guests under ‘reasonable’ circumstances. Good luck!

You can read the act here: http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/english/Statutes/Statutes/R22-0001.pdf

You can always inquire with the Office of the Rentalsman regarding your rights but I expect your lease details who has a right to live there, and probably some reference to how many people. As far as I know, the landlord does probably have a legal right to limit the number of people staying there. Obviously, in your case it sounds a little less than compassionate. If the parent is not actually “living there” but visiting, the rules may be different. I would call the Rentalsman.

I wonder who knows any laws or regulation about such situations. I really doubt if the occupant of my parent should be restrict by the manager.

Sorry to drop in on the blog. I’ve been following it, but have never posted, however, a couple of recent posts have intrigued me. I work for CBC Radio and I’ve been looking into some stories about housing and the boom.

Guy_in_Regina,

I would love to talk to you about the cancellation of your rent increase, and whether others in your building have experienced the same thing.

Wesco,

I would love to talk to you about the situation in Fort McMurray, with people returning to Saskatchewan for jobs.

By talking to me, you’re not agreeing to an interview or anything, but I’d just like to learn more about your posts and what you’re both seeing/experiencing.

I’d appreciate you contacting me — I can be reached by phone at 306-347-9711, or by e-mail at Sheryl.Rennie@cbc.ca

P.S. Norm — I enjoy the blog. Thanks for having the venue for people to post and comment…and not just because it helps me with stories!

“But Elliott has also noted heavy borrowing by upbeat Saskatchewan consumers resulted in increases in spending that were not matched by increased personal incomes.”

Whoops!

Inflation data was also released this morning:

http://tinyurl.com/apwucb

“OTTAWA — Plunging gasoline prices and reluctant consumers with a wary eye on the recession are driving Canada’s inflation rate into negative territory.

Consumer prices fell 0.7 per cent in December from a month earlier, the third month in a row for generalized price declines, and the fourth contraction in five months.”

Annual inflation rate in Saskatchewan (Previous month in brackets):

Saskatchewan 2.6 (3.2)

All provinces and territories:

http://tinyurl.com/dc7sws

Also of note:

Oil sands layoffs coming down pipeline

http://tinyurl.com/bypnbh

Record earnings for Potash Corp – profits triple in 2008 over previous year. PCS plans to proceed with their expansion plan starting with investments of nearly 2 billion dollars in 2009.

http://tinyurl.com/ad7g28

Non-residential construction in Saskatoon increased 18% in Saskatoon to a record $557 million. Meanwhile, residential construction slowed by 5% to 1,589 units.

http://tinyurl.com/chjaff

Retail sales cool in Sask. – “Doug Elliott, who publishes the Sask Trends Monitor newsletter, updated statements made at the height of the Saskatchewan spending boom that people were spending money like the proverbial drunken sailor. People are now just spending money “like slightly inebriated sailors,” Elliott offered in an interview Thursday.”

http://tinyurl.com/cyc2l8

Well I’m glad those builders forfeit a $15K deposit at least, too bad it goes back to the city – should be divvied up between those who didn’t get a pick! ;’)

I doubt the preferred list will really matter this time around with so many lots and less interest. I’m interested to see though which ones sell first, the smaller lots or walk-out basement lots. The latter has been most popular in the past… but things might be different. Perhaps with the “r” word on everyone’s lips some will reconsider their McMansions.

MHO, more a disadvantage that the province gives the federal Conservatives 13 of 14 seats every election come hell or high water.

- When the Libs are in power, why bother? We (collectively) don’t give them any seats regardless of how much they offer us.

- When the Cons are in power, why bother? We (collectively) give them seats regardless of how little they offer us.

Face it, democracies are the same everywhere; it’s the swing ridings that get the pork from both sides, while electorates that are solidly in the pocket (or solidly out of reach) get ignored.

Cynical? Me? Naaaaaahhhh…