BC Election 2026: What the Parties Are Promising on Housing

British Columbians go to the polls on Saturday, October 24, 2026, two years ahead of schedule, after Premier David Eby called a snap election on September 22. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21.

Housing costs are one of the main issues of the campaign. Below is a plain-English summary of what each party has committed to on housing so far, in the parties' own terms, and how it compares with the rules in place today. Platforms are still being released, so this reflects what had been announced as of October 8, 2026.

BC NDP (Leader David Eby)

On September 25, the BC NDP announced two housing tax measures:

• A new "Unsold Condo Tax" on newly completed strata condos that are left empty and unsold for more than a year. It would start at 2% of the unit's assessed value and rise by 1% for each additional year the unit stays unsold. The party estimates it could bring up to about 5,000 newly built vacant condos into use.

• A higher speculation and vacancy tax: from 1% to 2% for Canadian owners who pay the tax, and from 4% to 5% for foreign owners.

The party says any additional speculation and vacancy tax revenue would go toward building more affordable homes.

BC Conservatives (Leader Lorne Doerkson)

The Conservatives have not yet published a detailed housing plan. Their commitments that touch on housing so far:

• Lower the cost of building and buying a home. In a September 25 statement, the party said a Conservative government "will bring down the cost of building and buying a home so more homes get built," and that "every new tax on housing ends up in the price a family pays."

• No new taxes for the whole time the party is in government.

• A higher basic personal exemption for provincial income tax, from $13,216 to $32,000. The party says this would save most working British Columbians about $1,000 a year ($2,000 for the average couple).

• Return Metro Vancouver's housing, economic development, air quality and climate policy to local and provincial governments.

BC Greens (Leader Emily Lowan)

The BC Greens' housing commitments focus mainly on renters and non-market housing:

• Vacancy control: the annual rent increase limit would be tied to the rental unit rather than the tenant, so rent couldn't be raised beyond the limit between tenancies.

• End blanket "no pets" clauses in rental agreements, with management guidelines for pets in rentals.

• Restart the Community Housing Fund and Indigenous Housing Fund, with a goal of building and protecting 26,000 homes a year, and more funding for the Rental Protection Fund to protect 2,000 deeply affordable rental homes a year.

• Raise the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) income thresholds to $48,000 for singles and $53,000 for couples.

Other Parties

• CentreBC says housing policy should be measured by actual affordability outcomes rather than by counting units.

• OneBC has committed to eliminating the BC Energy Step Code (green building requirements) and blocking municipal rent control programs.

The Rules in Place Today

For context, here is where things stand now:

• Speculation and vacancy tax: a yearly tax on residential property in designated areas, including Metro Vancouver, charged as a rate times the property's assessed value. Most owners who live in their home are exempt but must still file a declaration each year. The current rates are 1% for Canadian owners who pay the tax and 4% for foreign owners.

• Rent increases: landlords can raise rent once every 12 months with at least three months' notice. The limit is 2.3% in 2026 and has been set at 2.2% for 2027.

• The market: Greater Vancouver REALTORS reported 1,717 home sales in September 2026, down 8.4% from a year earlier, with a benchmark price of $1,075,900 (down 5.5%). The sales-to-active listings ratio was 10.9%, in buyer's market territory. See the September 2026 Market Report for the full picture by area and property type.

Key Takeaways

• Election day is October 24; advance voting runs October 16 to 21. Elections BC (elections.bc.ca) lists where and how to vote.

• The BC NDP proposes a new tax on long-unsold new condos and higher speculation and vacancy tax rates.

• The BC Conservatives say they would lower the cost of building and buying, add no new taxes and raise the basic personal income tax exemption.

• The BC Greens focus on renters, including vacancy control and ending blanket pet bans, plus funding for non-market housing.

• Campaign commitments can change, and any new tax or rule would need to be passed into law after the election.

If you have questions about what the market is doing in your neighbourhood, or how today's rules apply to your home, feel free to get in touch.

This post summarizes commitments published by the parties as of October 8, 2026, and does not endorse any party or candidate. It is general information, not tax or legal advice – talk to a professional about your situation.

Sources: Elections BC and BC Ballot (bcballot.ca) election dates and party commitments; BC NDP announcement, September 25, 2026 (via The Canadian Press); Conservative Party of BC statements, September 25 and October 8, 2026 (conservativebc.ca); BC Green Party announcement, September 29, 2026; Residential Tenancy Branch rent increase limits; Government of BC, speculation and vacancy tax; Greater Vancouver REALTORS, September 2026 release.

Photo: Gennifer Miller on Unsplash.