Affordable Housing

An information landing page for all things affordable housing in Markham.

What is affordable housing in Markham?

Markham’s current Official Plan uses the provincial definition of ‘affordable’, which is yearly housing costs (rental or ownership) that do not require more than 30 percent of a household’s gross income for low and moderate-income households. For more info regarding household income, please see Figure 1 below.

Who supports and oversees affordable housing in Markham? 

The following government agencies lead the support and administration of affordable housing in Markham. Please refer to these links and contact details for further information:

• York Region's Housing Page
• York Region's Housing Directory
• Housing York Contact Information for Tenants
• Province of Ontario’s Housing Support Information

Why is affordable housing important in Markham?

According to research that supported Markham’s Affordable and Rental Housing Strategy:

• One-in-three households in Markham have housing affordability issues;

• Nearly one-in-five households in Markham are spending 50 percent or more of their income on housing alone;

• Average price of a resale home in Markham has doubled over the last 10 years; and

• Average market rent is increasing faster than inflation.

These findings led the Province of Ontario, Region of York, and the City of Markham to change their approach to providing quality, affordable housing to everyone who needs it. This is crucial because, currently, not all housing that meets the definition for affordability is affordable to everyone who needs it.

All levels of government have identified the need for more affordable housing. The York Region Official Plan’s Key Planning Principles outline ways that a full range of housing types can be provided. To achieve this, the Region has set a target of 25 percent of all new housing units to be made affordable for low and middle-income households, and at least 35 percent of all new housing units within Regional Centres and Major Transit Station Areas. Markham’s Official Plan is aligned with and uses these targets to guide affordability in the City's Key Development Areas. 

What are low and moderate-income households?

According to the standard used by York Region and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), low and moderate-income households have total gross incomes at or under $155,535. Figure 1 illustrates York Region’s household incomes and deciles from 2023:

Figure 1: York Region's Definitions of Low and Middle-Income Households*

*From York Region 2023 Measuring and Monitoring Report on Affordable Housing, which is updated yearly.

What is affordable ownership housing?

Affordable ownership housing is set at the maximum price that households at the 6^th decile of income distribution can afford to pay, based on 30 percent of gross income. In Markham, the maximum price threshold for an affordable home is $511,873, based on a household income of approximately $155,535, as shown in Table 1:

Table 1: Regional Thresholds for Affordable Ownership Housing*

*From York Region's 2023 Measuring and Monitoring Report on Affordable Housing, which is updated yearly.

The affordable threshold for ownership housing includes the following:

• mortgage costs

• mortgage insurance

• the minimum allowable down payment

• Bank of Canada’s posted rate for a 5-year fixed mortgage

What is affordable rental housing?

Affordable rental housing is where rents are set at the highest amount that a moderate-income household can pay using 30 percent of their gross income, as identified and calculated annually by the Region and CMHC. In Markham, the affordable rental threshold ranges from $1,278 to $2,526 per month depending on the unit type, as shown in Table 2:

Table 2: Regional Thresholds for Affordable Rental Housing*

*From York Region's 2023 Measuring and Monitoring Report on Affordable Housing, which is updated yearly.

What are the impacts of recent Provincial legislation changes on affordability? 

Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022) made many changes to housing policy and built a framework for exemptions for affordable units.

Bill 134 (Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023) changed the definition of affordability and established new criteria for affordability thresholds. The goal of these changes was to increase the amount of affordable housing available to renters and owners. Related to Bill 134, the Province released a Bulletin that was brought into effect on June 1, 2024 and sets the affordability threshold for units that are exempt from Development Charges.

Bill 185 (Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024) removed Planning responsibilities from the York Region and changed the role the Region will play in approving housing applications.

The City is initiating an Official Plan Review process to determine the policies needed to conform to new legislation and guide affordability in Markham.

What is purpose-built rental housing? 

Purpose-built rental housing can simply be defined as housing that is made for long-term rentership, not ownership. This type of housing has been viewed as a necessary tool for addressing the lack of rental housing in York Region. Studies have shown that the current rental supply is much lower than other Regions in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, and more is needed in Markham to address the needs of lower-income households.