Nearly eight per cent of Saskatchewan homes require major repairs, placing the province above the national average as a new report warns that Canada cannot afford to lose existing housing while struggling to meet growing demand.

A report released Oct. 22 by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) found that 7.87 per cent of Saskatchewan homes required major repairs in 2021, compared with the national average of 6.1 per cent.

Across Canada, approximately 919,550 homes needed significant repairs, representing nearly one million housing units potentially at risk of deterioration.

CMHC chief economist Mathieu Laberge says protecting existing housing is just as important as building new homes, particularly as communities work to address housing shortages and affordability challenges.

Saskatchewan above national average

While Saskatchewan’s housing repair needs have improved over the past 25 years, the province continues to have one of the highest rates among Canadian provinces.

In 1996, approximately 9.14 per cent of Saskatchewan homes required major repairs. That figure declined to 7.87 per cent by 2021.

Only Nova Scotia, at 8.22 per cent, had a higher rate among the provinces in 2021. The Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon reported substantially higher rates.

Within Saskatchewan’s larger urban centres, Regina recorded a major repair rate of 7.23 per cent, while Saskatoon reported 4.24 per cent.

CMHC says maintaining existing homes is particularly important because deteriorating properties can eventually become uninhabitable, reducing available housing at a time when supply is already under pressure.

For smaller communities, where replacing aging homes can be challenging, maintaining existing properties can help preserve housing options for residents.

Indigenous and subsidized housing face greater challenges

The report identifies Indigenous communities and residents of subsidized housing as populations facing disproportionately high repair needs.

Nationally, Indigenous populations live in housing requiring major repairs at approximately three times the national average.

First Nations residents living on reserve and Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat are five to six times more likely to live in homes requiring significant repairs.

CMHC attributes some of these challenges to geographic isolation, climate conditions and the resources available for construction and maintenance.

Subsidized housing also faces elevated repair needs, with 9.4 per cent of units requiring major repairs.

Renters are more likely than homeowners to live in properties needing significant work, at 7.3 per cent compared with 5.3 per cent.

The report warns that allowing affordable and subsidized housing to deteriorate could result in the loss of properties that are particularly difficult to replace.

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Poor housing conditions linked to health concerns

Beyond the risk of losing housing supply, CMHC says deferred maintenance can have serious implications for residents’ health and well-being.

According to the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey, homes requiring major repairs were approximately 13 times more likely to contain mould or mildew than homes needing only regular maintenance.

Mould or mildew was reported in 25.2 per cent of homes requiring major repairs, compared with 1.9 per cent of homes in good condition.

Pest infestations were also considerably more common, affecting 38.6 per cent of homes requiring major repairs, compared with 10.6 per cent of well-maintained homes.

Unsafe drinking water was reported in 8.9 per cent of homes needing major repairs, compared with 1.9 per cent of homes requiring regular maintenance.

CMHC says these conditions can disproportionately affect people already facing housing insecurity and affordability challenges.

Billions already spent on housing maintenance

Canadian households spend approximately $25 billion annually on housing maintenance and repairs, according to Statistics Canada data cited in the report.

Maintenance spending on rental properties is approximately 23 per cent higher than on owner-occupied homes, partly because rental housing tends to be older.

Federal investment has also supported housing preservation.

Since 2018, the Affordable Housing Fund has committed more than $2.89 billion toward renewing over 174,000 non-market housing units.

Provincial and municipal governments have also invested in programs to maintain aging rental properties and improve energy efficiency.

Despite those investments, CMHC says significant repair needs remain across the country.

Maintaining homes as important as building new ones

The report concludes that addressing Canada’s housing shortage requires more than accelerating new construction.

Preserving existing housing, particularly affordable rental properties and homes in vulnerable communities, can help prevent further pressure on housing supply.

CMHC warns that without continued investment in maintenance, Canada risks losing properties that already provide housing for people who may have limited alternatives.

The agency says combining new construction with the renewal and repair of existing homes will be essential to improving affordability, protecting housing supply and maintaining healthy living conditions.

For Saskatchewan, where nearly eight per cent of homes required major repairs in the latest census data, the findings highlight the importance of protecting existing housing alongside efforts to increase the number of available homes.

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