WHAT KIND OF HOUSING IS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES?
The Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) controls an inventory of both rental and for purchase units that are price restricted and are only available to Whistler Residents who are working full-time in Whistler.
CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT LONG-TERM RENTALS?
We have 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units as well as studios and duplexes that are long-term rentals, with a minimum one year lease. In order to be offered one of these units, you must have your name on our Rental Waitlist.
HOW DO I GET ON THE RENTAL WAITLIST?
You need to fill out a Tenancy Application. To be eligible to become an applicant you must be of legal age, Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, and must be a qualified employee or retiree. To qualify as an employee you must fulfil a minimum average of twenty hours of work per week on an annual basis, within the Resort Municipality of Whistler. You can either download a Tenancy Application from this website under Rentals, or pick up a form from our office at #320-2400 Dave Murray Place).
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A RENTAL UNIT AFTER I GET ON THE WAITLIST?
Depending on the type of unit, it could be as quick as a few months or as long as a few years.
WHY GET ON THE WAITLIST IF IT TAKES SO LONG?
Our housing is less costly than many private market rentals and can secure you a long-term rental accomodation. Once you have a unit, your lease will provide you with security and be renewed annually if you are a good tenant.
I NEED HOUSING NOW. HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?
We offer a free service for landlords to list their rental units (these are not WHA properties) on our website (click on Available Rental Listings).
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME GENERAL ADVICE FOR RENTALS?
Whistler’s two local newspapers, The Pique and The Question are both excellent resources for helping you find housing in Whistler as well as in the neighboring areas of Pemberton and Squamish. Both papers are available on-line. View The Pique at: www.piquenewsmagazine.com and The Question at: www.whistlerquestion.com .While searching for housing, talk to everyone you meet. The best places rarely make it into the newspapers. Look on notice boards (Village Square, Nesters, Food Plus, Southside Dinner). Once you get a place, get a lease agreement in writing (make sure you keep a copy for yourself) and get receipts for all your rent payments. A landlord may ask for a damage deposit but it can’t be more than half of the first month’s rent. Choose your roommates carefully.
WHAT IF I HAVE A PET?
None of the WHA rental units allow pets.
IF I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY LANDLORD, CAN THE WHISTLER HOUSING AUTHORITY HELP ME? Free residential tenancy information can be obtained by contacting the Residential Tenancy Branch at 1-800-665-8779 or HSRTO@gov.bc.ca; website: www.rto.gov.bc.ca. Or contact the Tenants Resource Advisory Center at 1-800-665-1185 or view www.tenants.bc.ca. The WHA is not qualified to give legal advice.
WHERE IS THE WHA OFFICE?
#325 - 2400 Dave Murray Place (3rd floor of the Beaver Flats Apartment Building in the Creekside).
IS THERE RENTAL HOUSING THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY THE WHA?
Lots of it! But it may be more expensive, or tougher to find. The private sector actually provides most of the rental housing in Whistler in the form of suites, townhouses, and detached homes. These opportunities can be found in the classifieds in our local newspapers, or on notice boards around town. We also have a free listing service for landlords (see private rental listings on our website).
I'M TIRED OF RENTING; I WANT TO BUY. WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO PURCHASE A WHISTLER HOUSING AUTHORITY UNIT?
All applicants must be of legal age, Canadian citizens or landed immigrants, must be qualified employees or retirees, and must be pre-approved for a mortgage. Employees must work a minimum average of 20 hours per week within Whistler. A retiree is someone who was employed in Whistler for five of the six years prior to ceasing employment. Applicants or their spouse must not own, either personally, jointly or indirectly through a trust or business assets, any non-restricted real estate in Whistler at the time of the application. For additional qualifications, please download a copy of the Waitlist Guidelines and Purchase Application, available under the Purchase section on this website.