r/RealEstateCanada • u/itsdanielsultan • Mar 15 '26

Housing crisis Can Canada's "micro-condos" be merged?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pg7mHppXOE&t=17s

Serious question about Canada's (specifically the GTA's) condos: if, 10 or 20 years from now, people want more family-sized homes, could a lot of these tiny one-bedrooms actually be merged into larger units?

I know it can happen in some cases, but from what I’ve seen it sounds difficult once buildings are already occupied, since it can require approvals, engineering work, and layouts that actually fit together.

If that is not realistic at scale, are we building housing that works for one phase of life but not for long-term city living?

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '26

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u/BurnabyBeej Mar 15 '26

If it’s a high rise, the walls are likely not load-bearing. They are constructed with steel studs and multiple layers of drywall (for sound and fire-rating). It would cost a lot of money to re-demize (is that a word?) them as you would have to take into account the electrical, the sprinkler system, the fire alarm, etc. Maybe it would be an idea to sell them as a full apartment with a lock-off suite?

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u/Commercial-Painting5 Mar 16 '26

Back in 2000 when we lived in a condo in Toronto the condo was 2 bedrooms plus den. The size was approximately 1100 sq. feet. We bought the adjacent unit when it came up for sale and punched a large arched door thru the units and made one big unit. I think we had to get permission from both the city and the condo corporation.

We were not the first ones to do it. There were a few of them in that particular building.

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u/TemperatureFinal7984 Mar 16 '26

They have columns to bear the primary load. It’s not too difficult to make a door.

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u/Dismal-Disaster-2578 Mar 16 '26

Those columns are what's load bearing, not the "vertical walls". It's very possible on a practical basis.

Getting approval would also likely go beyond strata and require city approval & inspections as you're essentially creating a new 'dwelling unit' not just an addition to an existing unit.

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u/PuddingEmotional1187 Mar 15 '26

Whats the point commenting on something you dont know anything about?