Guelph councilor responds to criticism over rent price of tiny homes

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When Guelph Councilor Rodrigo Goller rented his tiny backyard home, the response was swift.

At 520 square feet, the two-bedroom home is listed for $2,500 a month, utilities included, a price that more than one Facebook commenter called shameful.

But as Goller explained, property isn’t exactly a get-rich-quick scheme.

In fact, we get no cash flow in our household for 18 to 20 years, Goller said. We will be contributing from our home to pay the mortgage and line of credit fees for this location.

Goller said his family decided to have the house built two years ago.

We haven’t really used it all [the backyard], so we thought, could we share it? Maybe with students or with working professionals, he said.

He said they initially planned to lease it on the cheap, but after construction went over budget, $2,500 is close to the amount they can afford.

Photos of the interior of the house as seen in the rental listing. (kijiji)

The rental listing has received a lot of attention online, both good and bad.

There were negative comments on social media that were surprising, but understandable, he said.

While many think the price is exorbitant, some of those in the Guelph real estate sector say the cost is reasonable.

It’s a two-bed, two-bathroom unit, said Guelph realtor Megan Webb. I think $2,500 is pretty much the average for a two bedroom apartment in Guelph, especially for a new unit like this.

The small house has two bedrooms. (kijiji)

Webb, who works for Planet Reality, said based on what she’s seen and the amenities provided, $2,500 a month isn’t absurd.

I can understand the shock and the affordability issue, but people are paying these prices and we are seeing it, she said.

While many criticize Goller for not offering the property at a more affordable price, he said his family simply couldn’t afford it and it was up to the government, including the one he was part of, to do more. .

We really need more social housing in Guelph and that’s something I want to see happen as a councillor. We need more dollars for social housing in Guelph, he said.

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