For many in B.C. finding a rental has become a full-time job, competition is fierce

In 2018, teen brothers Hudson and Jackson Forsyth-Beck started growing veggies in the front yard of their rental home in Squamish, B.C., selling pickles.

That turned into a busy farm stand over the years.

But now, their family is facing eviction. Their father Robert Forsyth posted a video in a Facebook group appealing for help to find a home — and freezer space — to save about 10,000 pounds of produce, pies and preserves.

"If anybody has any solutions, maybe options," he said in a post on Feb. 25.

That began an all-consuming hunt to find a place to live, where his boys can grow up and keep growing their farm stand business.

"It's almost a full-time job looking for a place," said the 47-year-old father, who is a construction worker, earlier this month.

His family is just one of many you can find online, especially in housing forums, competing for rentals in Canada's toughest housing market: British Columbia, where an apartment costs on average $2,481 per month.

Housing policy experts say renters with few options are desperate to try to find an affordable — or at least available — place.

Often, that's people who describe facing eviction. Many say they have been pushed out, so the landlord can hike rent, often doubling it. In turn, landlords say they need more flexibility to move bad renters out.

The fierce competition is driving some tenants to pitch themselves to potential landlords in new ways. Now, some are putting not only their rental histories and credit scores on the table: they're also crafting online posts to highlight their qualities as renters — like personality, family values or skills — to rise above the pack and stand out.

For the past seven years, Forsyth has paid $1,700 a month for a unit in Squamish.

When his new neighbours told him their rent was $2,900, he got worried. Then came the dreaded eviction notice in December. He's since applied for dozens of places. This week, he got a lead on a unit in Langley that he hopes works out.

In the meantime, he's agreed to pay a higher rent to stay in place for now, and he predicts his cost of living will likely triple.

"I am stressed and worried," he said.