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Grannie flats, man-caves, back-yard studios — call them what you will, tiny, fully-serviced homes on the same property as a larger house have been around for a long time. But laneway suites — which not only sit in the backyard of a house, but also front on to an accessible laneway — are a different breed. And according to a new study, they could be a crucial tool in dealing with Toronto’s rental housing shortage.

The solution to Toronto’s housing affordability crisis could be found in your own backyard. The city is looking to change the rules around developing one of its few resources of underused land – laneways. The city voted last night in favour of moving forward with the idea of making laneway houses for people in a densely populated city.

A possible solution to Toronto’s affordable housing crisis while helping homeowners generate income needed to afford a home.

Councillor Ana Bailão and Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon have put forward a motion to the June 13, 2017 Toronto and East York Community Council. It asks the Chief Planner and City Planning to undertake further public consultation and report back with an implementation strategy. We’re going to look back on this one day and wonder why it took so long.

Andrew was featured on the Morrison Report podcast. He answers; what Lanescape is and how it started, would Laneway housing improve the rental supply in Toronto, and what stopped Toronto from having more laneway housing in the past.