# British Columbia rental housing development and protection

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/british-columbia-rental-housing-development-and-protection
> Updated: 2026-07-28T17:51:32.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026, TELUS opened its first purpose‑built rental project in downtown Nanaimo, adding 195 mixed‑use units and outlining a larger plan for over 4,000 such homes across Canada by 2032. A related proposal in nearby Saanich sought approval for a 77‑unit rental building that would incorporate an existing TELUS facility.

A week later, Nanaimo City Council moved forward with a tenant‑protection bylaw. The draft ordinance would require landlords redeveloping buildings of four or more units to compensate displaced tenants with four months’ rent, moving costs, notice, and ongoing updates, and it would impose daily fines for non‑compliance. Council members, including Mayor Leonard Krog, praised the measure as a new municipal safeguard under recent provincial powers.

Together, the two snapshots show parallel developments in British Columbia: private‑sector expansion of rental housing stock and municipal action to strengthen tenant rights and compensation in the province.

## Claims

- Nanaimo City Council voted on July 20 to direct staff to amend the official community plan to require data centre rezoning applications to include detailed daily and yearly water use, energy use and a (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Councillor Hilary Eastmure introduced the motion requiring the additional data. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The proposed data centre at 2086‑2090 East Wellington Road is a two‑story modular facility with a projected peak water usage of 55,000‑69,000 litres per day. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The council rezoned the site in 2022 after a 6‑3 vote in favour. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Councillors Paul Manly and others voiced concerns that the data centre’s water demand could strain local aquifers amid drought conditions. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Councillor Sheryl Armstrong noted that four resolutions will be presented to the next Union of British Columbia Municipalities meeting to urge provincial regulation of data centres. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The council may place covenants on water use amounts as part of the rezoning process. (corroborated by 6 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-28: Nanaimo council advances tenant‑protection bylaw

Nanaimo council approved a bylaw requiring landlords redeveloping rentals to pay four months’ rent and other compensation to displaced tenants, with fines for non‑compliance.

20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nanaimo-council-seeks-water-and-energy-data-for-data-centre-rezoning

### 2026-07-22: TELUS expands BC rental housing with Nanaimo opening and Saanich proposal

TELUS opened a 195‑unit rental building in Nanaimo and advanced a 77‑unit rental proposal in Saanich, part of its aim to build 4,000 units across Canada by 2032.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/telus-expands-bc-rental-housing-with-nanaimo-opening-and-saanich-proposal

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Cite as: British Columbia rental housing development and protection. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/british-columbia-rental-housing-development-and-protection