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WB increases rent on summer staff housing

Maintenance and cleaning costs behind the approximate $3-per-night rise

Residents in Whistler Blackcomb's staff housing will have to pay more this summer than previous years.

Whistler Blackcomb is raising the cost of staff housing to match winter rates, said housing manager Nicole Baudisch, since the complexes are getting more popular in the summer and general costs have increased.

"We decided this year that... we would keep our summer rates the same as the winter rates," said Baudisch. "We are full most of the year now, and the cleaning costs and maintenance costs have increased."

In particular, rooms that usually rent out for $8 per night in the summer will now cost $10.20. Rooms priced at $11 will now go up to $13.65, and rooms valued at $14 will now be $17.85.

Baudisch said she is not concerned the costs will be too high for residents trying to make ends meet, and she also has not heard any concerns from current tenants yet.

"People were able to pay rent through the winter," she said.

"We don't have a lot of people owing us a lot of money. I track that every two weeks, and people are paying rent. If it is not coming off their paycheque, then they are coming in and paying with debit or cash."

Last summer, staff housing was 90 per cent full in June and July, although a few spaces opened up in August. This summer, about 630 beds will be available, compared to 1,300 available in the winter.

Even with the price hike, tenants still pay less for staff housing than they would elsewhere in Whistler. The average studio rents for $1,422 a month (around $47 a day). And the average one-bedroom goes for $1,501 a month (about $50 a day), according to statistics collected by the Whistler Housing Authority.

Baudisch added even though summer rents are increasing, Whistler Blackcomb has upgraded all its staff housing buildings over the last three years and is trying to provide better services and products to residents.

Residents in staff housing are charged on a nightly basis as opposed to a monthly basis. However, tenants are required to make an initial 14-day commitment.

Staff housing is also open to the general public in the summer, and nightly rental rates include things like satellite television.