Back lane suite construction could be gaining ground in Winnipeg

New data shows more secondary suites are being built in Winnipeg. Jeff Keele has more.

More detached suites could be springing up off back lanes in Winnipeg.

Myles Kraut has owned a rental property on Lanark St. in River Heights for 24 years - now something new is going to rise behind the home.

“There’s very little vacancy here, so I feel like you know they’ll be a lot of interest,” said Kraut.

He is planning on building a two-vehicle garage in the backyard, with 650 square feet of living space above. It’s a secondary suite, off the back lane, also known as a Granny suite.

“So we’re getting revenue from my original property, and now we’ll be getting additional revenue from the back lane suite,“ said Kraut.

For nearly two decades, the city has been promoting secondary suites to increase affordable housing options in existing neighbourhoods – but uptake hasn’t always been strong.

Numbers from recent years show a gradual rise in the construction of these secondary suites: 103 in 2022, 136 in 2023, 157 in 2024, and 203 in 2025.

Dwell Design Builders, contractors specializing in infill housing, now has a division solely dedicated to secondary suites off of back lanes. President Braydin Huynen said options include one and two-bedroom units above a garage or at the ground level. He said the city brought in new rules aimed at making it easier to build them.

“What we’re doing is offering a detached living space in the rear yard of the property.” said Huynen.

Huynen said they have three typical clients asking about this - those who want to earn extra money from their property, families who want their elderly parents to live close by, and parents with older kids still living at home.

“Perhaps (they) can’t afford to get into something but still want their own space, parents want them out,” Huynen explained.

But there could be other homeowners who might not appreciate the added density to the property next door, over concerns like traffic and preserving the character of the area – something Kraut understands.

“I do feel that anytime there’s a new home or a new build it increases the property value of everyone around it.”