Basement suites: Demand, supply, space, and technology

Key Messages The emergence of the basement suite sector reflected the historical evolution of housing demand, supply, and home technology. Basement suites emerged as a distinct sector in the 1970s in a context of high rental demand, declining apartment production, and shortfalls in other low‐rent supply. Basement suites were facilitated by post‐war innovations in housing spaces, equipment, and materials, such as natural gas heating, drywall, cheap appliances, and recreation rooms.