B.C. government sues buyers of affordable housing in Victoria [Video]

The B.C. government is cracking down on more than a dozen Victoria condo owners, taking five of them to court, over allegations they’ve abused a housing affordability agreement.

Homeowners who bought into the Vivid at the Yates building on Johnson Street in Victoria had to pledge that their household income was less than $150,000 per year and that they would live in their unit for at least two years in exchange for sale prices that were below market value.

But B.C.’s housing minister says not all of the buyers acted in good faith.

“It’s outrageous that people would – investors would – take advantage of housing that’s being made available for people who are struggling to find housing in our communities,” Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said Tuesday. “We do audit every single project that we have and that’s why these individuals were caught.”

Kahlon says eight owners have returned strata …