In Vancouver, it is major advantage that a house has potential to add new suites. Nobody cares about permit. And cities don't care either, only if someone reports then city will inform you first for inspection. For those 40+ years old houses, since cities have no blueprint, landlords can simply move the stove of the new suite out, and claim this is the original design, then city can not do anything. In East Vancouver, since everyone is doing or has done the addition, nobody will report.