February 15, 2013 ????? 0 Comments
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By PRADIP RODRIGUES
Ever since The Star broke the? controversial story about a 6,600 square-foot home being built in a quiet neighborhood filled with homes no bigger than 2000 square-feet a few days ago, there has been lively debate happening on dozens of websites and in homes not just in Brampton but all across the GTA. Two questions emerge- just how many family members should legally dwell in a single-family home and the problem of illegal basements and multiple renters being passed off for family members.
Monster homes are out of place
The monster home being built in Brampton is one of many such homes that now dot suburbia. The owner claims the home is for him and his extended family and while no one has an issue with this joint family living arrangement, there is difficulty in accepting the size of the home that looks distinctly out of place in the neighborhood. Because the owner will be having his brothers and their families as well as parents all living with him, separate living units are being made within the home making it almost like a mini-apartment complex. Historically suburban housing developments were created with nuclear families that consisted of parents, two or three children and a dog. Immigrants tended to live in the city and moved into the suburbs once they saved enough to buy themselves a slice of the Canadian dream.
Suburban cities are home to newcomers
Brampton like Mississauga, Markham and Richmond Hill are the new suburban cities that are home to newcomers. If it wasn?t for cheap rental units available in these cities, they would not be there in the first place given the cost of homes and city taxes. Brampton is the fastest-growing munici?pality in the country; between 2001 and 2011, its population increased by 61 per cent, to 525,000, today it is significantly higher. A vast number of Brampton?s residents are newcomers. The issues roiling the city have to do with dealing with illegal basement apartments, extended families, proportionate property taxes and of course as we now know, monster homes as well.
Growing number of multi-generational homes
Today newcomers or ethnic minorities tend to buy into big homes, some resembling castles because of two reasons-either they have extended family living with them or intend renting out a portion of their home? which is factored in when planning their high mortgage. All cities have its share of such dwellings and authorities generally look the other way, but in Brampton it is hard not to notice the results simply because of the scale. City taxes cover all residents of a single-family dwelling, but with thousands of unaccounted residents of subterranean basement apartments also assessing city facilities like schools and hospitals which has resulted in a major strain on the system. Today property taxes in Brampton are higher than in many other cities keeping this reality in mind. Residents who rent out their basement apartments or those in joint families where expenses are shared don?t really care, it hits the bottom line of law abiding single families.
How to solve the problem
This is an issue that is not going to go away and so Canadian cities will have to review zoning laws and perhaps allow for sub-divisions with multi-dwelling monster homes and figure out a way to tax the property depending on the number of family members or renters. As things stand today, re-sale homes and new homes that don?t have separate basement entrances command a lower price. First time buyers often buy homes and calculate mortgages based on tax-free rental income, this is part of the problem. Property assessments are done based on the assumption of one family living in a sub-division zoned for single-family units, not two, three and even four families. Today Brampton can well be considered the newcomer capital of Canada and what happens in Brampton today WILL happen in other smug cities that don?t have to deal with this complex issue yet.
By Web Editor
Tags: family, home, issue, number, three, today
Source: http://canindia.com/2013/02/sprawling-family-dwellings-and-now-a-monster-home-in-brampton/
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