Starting this fall and in effect as of September 28th, 2015, CMHC plans to change the rules for buyers to allow them to include projected income from secondary suites when they apply for a loan. "CMHC will consider up to 100 per cent of gross rental income from a two-unit owner-occupied property that is the subject of a loan application submitted for insurance," the new rules state. Up to 100 per cent of gross rental income may be used only where prospective borrowers can demonstrate a strong history of managing credit generally considered to be a minimum credit score of 680.
The rule change is aimed at boosting affordability, although some experts say the new regulations could actually further heat up housing markets in Toronto and Metro Vancouver.
Professor Tom Davidoff of the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business said the changes will likely appeal to young families, allowing them to buy bigger properties with suites that can later be used by the owner. "When the family is larger, they can toss out the renters and occupy the space themselves without having to move," Davidoff said. Tsur Sommerville, also with the UBC Sauder School of Business, said the CMHC change will have more impact than the Bank of Canada's recent prime rate reduction. "For someone who is looking to buy a house with a basement suite that was generating $1,200 in rent, they can borrow an additional $72,000 to purchase that unit because of that change," Sommerville noted.
From CBC News.