About
Experienced, Trusted, Dedicated Company
Why ORCA homes?
Live sustainably, without sacrificing comfort or style
Our philosophy is based on the idea that it’s possible to live comfortably while also protecting the natural environment. We’ve created modular homes that are designed and built sustainably to reduce environmental impact, while also prioritizing comfort, well-being, and health. Our eco-friendly Homes are crafted from precision-engineered materials that are responsibly sourced and have been tested over time, offering both utility and beauty with a subtle yet striking aesthetics
Benefits
Thoughtful Design
Our home designs prioritize contemporary functionality and refinement , while also purposefully integrating with the natural environment. Our design DNA is rooted in the Canadian landscape and lifestyle.
Energy Efficent
ORCA's Homes are designed to be climate-responsive and operationally efficient, incorporating locally sourced natural materials to create a healthy indoor living environment that promotes your comfort and the well-being of your surroundings.
Built to last a Lifetime
ORCA Utilizes its own proprietary Light Gauge Steel (LGS) galvanized steel technology, which ensures long-lasting durability in even the harshest climates and helps to minimize environmental wear and tear. This results in a low-maintenance and healthy product for both you and the planet.
Sustainable Production
Our approach to building design and construction is eco-friendly and sustainable, with climate-responsive features and the use of locally sourced, 100% recyclable steel and other sustainable building materials. Additionally, we prioritize extremely low waste during the construction process to minimize our environmental impact. By addressing the needs of the present without compromising the future, our approach ensures a more sustainable future for all.
Why Lease ?
Downsizing can bring simplicity and freedom
After years of focusing on homeownership, many residents are now transitioning to a more flexible lifestyle by downsizing. This change allows them to enjoy the fruits of their investment in their previous homes and embark on a new phase in their lives with the freedom to travel and explore new opportunities.
A New Adventure
Cumberland residents are embracing a new chapter in their lives and seeking to make the most of their best years. They yearn for more freedom and flexibility to travel, explore, and enjoy their well-deserved investments while keeping a watchful eye on them.
A future that's within your control
Land leases at “The Flats of cumberland” help residents plan for their future by reducing the need for long-term cash investments, thus enabling them to achieve their goals more easily
Your dream home, without the hassle.
Our Low maintenance homes With less upkeep and repairs allow homeowners to save time and money in the long run. Our Homes require less maintenance and allow homeowners to focus on enjoying their space and pursuing their hobbies and interests, rather than constantly tending to their property. Overall, our maintenance homes can offer a simpler, more convenient, and more enjoyable living experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
Q. What is the Flats of Cumberland? Is it a Strata Development?
The Flats of Cumberland is a community of 56 brand new, contemporary, low maintenance homes in a beautiful setting. It is not a strata development. It is a manufactured home park community. Residents purchase their home and rent the land under their home from the park owner on a ‘pad lease’.
What is a manufactured home? Is it moveable?
Manufactured homes include modular and mobile homes. They are typically built in a factory off-site and then delivered and assembled on-site. However, the homes at the Flats of Cumberland are built directly on site and directly onto the concrete crawlspace foundation. They have never been moved or transported to the site from a factory. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) label provides the specifications the home is built to and the Flats of Cumberland homes are built under the Z-240 standards. The homes are legally moveable.
Q. Where are the homes registered?
All homes are registered with the BC Manufactured Home Registry. This registry maintains a central register of manufactured home ownership details, controls the movement of manufactured homes in B.C. and improves the security of lenders in financing purchases of manufactured homes.
Q. What are the lease terms?
The ‘pad rental lease’ is a monthly residential lease, which runs indefinitely and does not expire. The monthly lease rate is $750 per month. All the lots are offered at $750 per month. The lease is not a fixed term lease and there are no First Nations land claims on the property. The lease conforms to the BC Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act & Regulation. These can be accessed here below.
The Act. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/02077_01
The Regulation. https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/481_2003
Information provided by the BC Residential Tenancy Branch can be found here.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/residential-tenancies/manufactured-homes
Q. Can the landlord increase the rent?
There is rent control provided by the BC Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act & Regulation and the landlord can only increase the rent as permitted by law.
Q. What does the pad rental lease include?
The lease includes renting the lot underneath the tenant’s home, common area maintenance including snow removal and access to an on-site, live-in manager when the park capacity reaches a certain point.
Q. Are pets allowed?
Yes maximum 2 pets are allowed with park owner approval. No size limits.
Q. Are there Community Rules?
Yes. All homeowners agree to follow the Community Rules as part of the tenancy agreement.
What is the homeowner responsible for?
The homeowner is responsible for maintenance and upkeep of their leased lot. Homeowners are responsible for municipal taxes, utility costs and maintenance of their home. As there is no strata, there are no strata special levies.
Q. Are rentals allowed?
Yes, assignments and sub-lets are allowed under the Community Rules and Tenancy Agreement with prior landlord approval. No short term or AirBandB style rentals are allowed.
Are sheds allowed?
Yes. Sheds are allowed up to a maximum of 8’ by 10’ and 8’ high. Shed designs must be approved by the Park Owner first. However some lots do not provide enough space for a shed.
Q. Are garages allowed?
No. The development permit does not permit garages due to the zoning bylaw set backs requirements.
Q. Are BBQs and hot tubs allowed?
Yes. Both BBQs and hot tubs are allowed.
Q. What are the financial benefits over a strata development?
- No Property Transfer Tax due to the leasehold nature of the land
- Lower insurance costs due to leasehold nature of property
- Lower utility costs due to 12-inch-thick walls and ceilings using innovative building technology. Energy efficient heat pumps included as standard.
- Lower maintenance costs – with a steel frame, metal siding, metal roof, low maintenance landscaping, there’s minimal items to maintain.
- Home owners own the whole home and are not responsible for repairs on other units and vice versa. There are no strata levies or special assessments.
- Under Provincial law there is no limit to what a Strata Corporation is able to charge in monthly assessments and special levies. There is no limit on increases. Whereas with a pad rental lease, all rent increases are controlled and limited by Provincial law.
Get in touch
Phone - 250 650 8170
Email - rossmcdyre@royallepage.ca
3025 Royston Road
Cumberland
Vancouver Island
British Columbia