Lack of rental availability at Kelowna ski hill prompts creative self-advertising
A lack of affordable housing across the province has turned rental applications into a fierce competition and appears to be prompting more in-depth self-marketing from those needing a place to stay.
Countless rental seekers are filling social media groups with posts about why they are reliable tenants, with many including personal background information, employment information and photos of themselves.
Luke Thomas, 26, is taking a slightly different approach in his online self advertisement as he searches for a room to rent at Big White Ski Resort where he’ll be working as a ski patroller for the winter season.
“Introducing the Perfect Tenant- Me!” his post on a Big White Facebook group reads sprinkled with emojis. “Hey there, future roomie! I’m not just any tenant, I’m the kind of tenant dreams are made of.”
In his post, he's friendly, funny and upbeat.
Thomas lists all the reasons why he’s a “dream” tenant, including being a “safety hero” as a ski patroller, a “Jiu-Jitsu Warrior” a “Zen Master” and a botanist who will “transform the space into a botanical wonderland!”
But for Thomas, lack of affordable rental availability is a real and serious issue that he’s been seeing as a seasonal worker in several towns and ski hills across the province for the past few years including Tofino, Banff, Fernie and Big White.
“Finding accommodation is a gong show, no matter where I go it’s the biggest problem,” he said. “The people I talk to say the only way to get accommodation is to go to the place and chat with people. Renters are renting rooms but not advertising them, they’re giving it to their friends first.”
While Thomas said in-person interactions are more successful than online interactions for finding housing rentals in tourist towns and at ski resorts, it means a person moving to a new town has to find or pay for temporary accommodations while they shop for something longer term, which isn’t an affordable option for everyone.
Thomas worked at Big White Mountain Resort last winter and took a big a risk to secure accommodation ahead of his arrival.
“I had to trust someone and it could have been a scam,” he said. “I sent a deposit of $1,000 without having proof it wasn’t going to a scammer. It was wild. I got a place one week before my job started.”
READ MORE: Ten-fold annual increase in subsidized housing needed in Kelowna
Thomas said one winter while working in Fernie he talked to people who were seeking rentals while working and living in their cars in winter conditions.
“These are young people working jobs trying to make ends meet, there just isn’t enough for rent. It’s one of those things everyone knows about and is trying to deal with, hoping they’ll get lucky and find something.”
READ MORE: Rent for one-bedroom in Kelowna leaps past $2,000 a month
As for his online post, Thomas admitted “putting yourself out there is a bit weird” and while the post got a lot of attention he still needs accommodation at Big White for the winter.
“I thought why not write something funny and make light of something serious and went a little over-the-top with it,” he said. “Some of the other posts seem gloomy, as if the poster already knows there is no hope.”
“Let’s make this living situation a match made in tenant heaven!” reads the end of his post.
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