UNAFFORDABLE UTAH

KSL Investigates: Utah’s Growing Apartment Affordability Crisis

Feb 27, 2018, 11:37 AM | Updated: Jul 12, 2018, 8:11 pm

Utah's growing economy comes at a cost: As more people move to Utah, apartment prices are rising fa...

Utah's growing economy comes at a cost: As more people move to Utah, apartment prices are rising faster than wages.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah’s growing economy is great for business, but it’s creating an affordability crisis for renters. The KSL Investigators found as more people move to the region, the demand for apartments has outpaced the supply, pushing up rents faster than wages.

West Valley City resident Janice Thompson has felt the pain.

“It is definitely difficult to find something that I can afford, even when I was looking for this place, it was hard,” she said.

For the last three years, Thompson and her cat, Lynx, have called a studio apartment in West Valley home, but at the end of February, they’re moving out.

“When I park at night, I’m scared to walk from my car to my home, and I’ve had some bad experiences here,” Thompson said.

She’s seen fights. Her car window was busted out. A neighbor set the building on fire. West Valley police data shows 237 crimes have been recorded in her neighborhood near 4000 South and Redwood Road during the last month. On top of all that, her rent has shot up from $575 per month to $800 per month.

“There’s like a gap that keeps building and building, and now I’m in debt and I can’t make ends meet,” Thompson said.

Thompson, who earns about $30,000 a year, said she has given up Netflix and internet service as the price of rent has outpaced her pay. Still, she said she’s been forced to use credit cards to make ends meet.

“The cost of living is so high — it’s not just this apartment complex, it’s apartments all over the valley,” she said.

Federal data show she’s right. Rent has risen 20 percent, on average, since 2010. During the same time period, a two-bedroom apartment in St. George increased 24 percent. The data show two-bedroom prices in Grand County jumped 42 percent as well.

But what does that mean for apartment hunters? The KSL Investigators compared rental prices online for a two-bedroom apartment in a dozen cities across the state.

Not surprising, Park City ($1,567) and Salt Lake ($1,456) are the most expensive. But it’s not much cheaper in Cottonwood Heights ($1,208) or Sandy ($1,008). St. George is $1,166. The most affordable on our list: Cedar City, at $716 a month.

What’s the rent where you live?
Salt Lake City recently commissioned a housing study to come up with a five-year housing plan. It found rent rose twice as fast as people’s pay between 2011 and 2014. It also found half of all renters spend more than 30 percent of their monthly take-home pay on rent. That’s a figure the government considers unaffordable. Salt Lake City leaders believe if unchecked, the problem here will only get worse.

“I would say nothing’s really affordable. People are really struggling to figure out how to stay in the city,” said Melissa Jensen, Salt Lake City’s housing director.

The housing study showed a deficit of about 7,500 apartments in Salt Lake. Jensen said the city needs cheaper apartments and more of them.

The shortage of affordable housing squeezes people earning under $20,000 a year the most, Jensen said.

“That means they’re giving up food, they’re not paying their bills, they’re maybe not fixing their car,” she said.

She pointed to the 9th East Lofts, owned by the Salt Lake City Housing Authority, as one solution to the housing crunch. It’s mixed income, meaning 14 apartments charge the market rate, which is $1,450 for a two-bed, two-bath apartment. The other 58 units charge between $303 to $950 a month, based on a person’s take-home pay.

The 500-square-foot apartments come with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, and even a marble surround in the bathroom.

Jensen said the city wants to encourage more developers to build affordable housing, but big buildings aren’t the only answer. The city wants more duplexes, rowhouses, and even more mother-in-law apartments. All of those can blend in with the city’s existing neighborhoods. She said the city can’t afford to become unaffordable.

“If everybody moved out of this city who couldn’t afford to live here, imagine the commute coming in, imagine the effect on air quality,” Jensen said.

Thompson was lucky. She found a new place for her stuff and her cat. But for so many others, the cost of housing is growing unaffordable here in Utah.

“We all need a place to live, but we all deserve to live somewhere that’s safe,” Thompson said.

One solution not under consideration is rent control. The Utah Legislature banned rent control back in 1987.

KSL 5 TV Live

Unaffordable Utah

a sign announcing rent...

Daniel Woodruff

Utah senators kill compromise bill giving tenants more notice of rent increases

A Utah lawmaker’s push to give tenants more notice of rent increases hit a wall as Republicans on a Senate committee voted not to advance it.

28 days ago

Homes under construction...

Daniel Woodruff

Utah lawmakers eye changes to first-time homebuyer program

Utah's new first-time homebuyer program could soon be changing.

2 months ago

two flags in front of the Utah Capitol...

Daniel Woodruff

Proposal to expand Utah’s earned income tax credit stalls at Legislature

A bill that would have expanded Utah’s earned income tax credit by making it refundable failed to pass out of a legislative committee Tuesday afternoon.

2 months ago

Utahns are struggling more than most in paying our credit card bills on time....

Matt Gephardt

Why Utahns struggle more than most of the nation with their credit card bills

Utahns are struggling more than most to pay their credit card bills on time.

2 months ago

home for sale...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

How a little-known insurance report can save homebuyers thousands

You've heard the phrase, “If these walls could talk.” Boy, wouldn't it be nice if it was that easy when you're buying a home that its walls could tell you what they’ve been through?

2 months ago

Noemi Bustamante, co-owner of "Noemi's Cafe" working at the front of the store....

Shelby Lofton and Michael Houck

Mother-son business duo share restaurant’s financial struggles on social media

A family-owned Chilean restaurant is asking for the community's help as money struggles may force them to close.

3 months ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

KSL Investigates: Utah’s Growing Apartment Affordability Crisis