A slightly larger than closet-sized rental has been listed for $1,000 a month in Surrey.
Listed on Facebook Marketplace, the Surrey bedroom for rent is approximately 50 sq ft and includes a “small but functional” closet.
Along with the bedroom, the potential renter has access to a shared bathroom, an in-suite washer and dryer, a full kitchen, and other building amenities. The renter can also request a bedside table.
According to the BC Building Code, the bedroom rental might have some problems, and not just because of its small size.
Facebook Marketplace
For fire safety, bedrooms in BC require an exit, which isn’t just the primary entryway.
The building code states, “Except where the suite is sprinklered, each bedroom or combination bedroom shall have at least one outside window or exterior door openable from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge and without the removal of sashes or hardware.”
Facebook Marketplace
The renter would get their own thermostat control, which isn’t something many bedroom renters have access to.
Facebook Marketplace
The rest of the shared unit looks cozy, and the listing says it’s ideally suited for someone who “just needs a place to sleep.”
“If you are interested in a quiet, comfortable living space with great amenities, this is the perfect spot for you!”
There’s also access to a balcony.
Facebook Marketplace
It’s important to note that the person who listed the unit isn’t at fault as they didn’t build the place or arrange the floor plan to define it as a bedroom.
It’s the room on the lower left. (Facebook Marketplace)
Despite the tiny size, with a consistent lack of rental supply in Metro Vancouver and rental costs that many are finding hard to afford, this unit still falls well under the average rent, though again, it is a shared space and not a private home.
We’ve reached out to the BC Ministry of Housing for more clarity on the legalities of the Surrey rental. We’ve also contacted the person who listed the unit for more information about it.
Could you see yourself renting this home in desperate times? Let us know in the comments.