Case Studies & Stories of Practice
British Columbia
Surrey’s Fee-Simple Rowhouses: Expanding Housing Choice Without Strata
Fee-simple rowhouses offer full ownership of both the building and land, eliminating strata fees and rules while giving owners greater control over their properties. Amendments to the Land Title Act in 2012 introduced Party Wall Agreements to manage shared components.
Despite early concerns about noise and privacy, Surrey’s fee-simple rowhouses have thrived, providing a popular alternative as the market shifts from detached homes to townhouses — and inspiring similar projects in other neighbourhoods.
Discover how this ownership model is diversifying housing options in Surrey.
Keywords: Surrey fee-simple rowhouses; gentle density housing; fee-simple ownership; small-scale multi-unit housing; rowhouse development; housing market transition; party wall agreements; missing middle housing; affordable housing Surrey; non-strata housing
