My partner, Karen Ledger, and I are moving from 1238 Richardson Street, as of the end of June. We don’t yet know where we’ll be going. This fact is, in part, my impetus for writing this post. We would be grateful for our community of friends, family and clients to send us (very brief) leads on places for rent that fall along the lines of the parameters I’ll lay out, below. Many thanks in advance if you can offer any assistance to us – even if it is just holding the vision that we find something that is nourishing as personal sanctuary, and (connected to the living space, or separate from it) a place that works admirably for my osteopathic practice.

Most of you reading will know (though some will not) that Karen and I have been lucky enough to live in a beautiful property in Fairfield. It has a great garden, and wonderful practice space for me, and a very nice studio out back which Karen has used for her office and part-time practice space. The rest of the house is not so salubrious, but has served us very well for years now.

The white door to my clinic is open to the waiting room area in the following pictures. Last pic is my treatment room. One before that is the hallway to treatment room and bathroom, beyond.

We would ideally love to find a place in Fairfield again – since it works so well for us and our clients to get to and from. If that doesn’t work, we are also looking in other parts of Greater Victoria  EXCEPT Oak Bay (unless it was purely for our home, since bylaws don’t allow home offices – meaning it is too risky to try and combine home and practice space behind the Tweed Curtain). The western communities (Colwood, Langford, Sooke) are too far out, and James Bay generally feels too crowded in. Gordon Head is possible but not preferable.

So here is a list of features we’d love to have in living and practice spaces – ideally in the same location.

A garden for growing vegetables – a south, west or east facing area

Bright rooms, 2 bedrooms and a den/office area for Karen

A nice LR, dining rm and kitchen area. We like to cook…

Storage  and workshop area (garage or basement?)

Enough room in LR or another area for me to do music in (piano, guitars, and other instruments)

Room for my practice:

Whether it is part of the home space or not, I need relatively level access for movement-restricted clients/patients.

The space again needs to be bright and attractive.

including a separate entrance, a room private, but bright enough to be a treatment room, and access to a bathroom nearby. Preferably an additional separate area where 1-2 people could wait for their family member while the treatment goes on.

We are in our early 60’s and very responsible tenants. Both of us have been home-owners in the past. We have excellent references.

We have both always been non-smokers, and we have no pets.

In my practice as an osteopath I see people of all ages, and I treat animals, mostly dogs, OUTSIDE the house. At our present home I treat dogs on the step outside the white clinic door. (See above pic.)

I presently have an administrative assistant (Lyle) who works two half-days per week with me. Depending on layout of either home or separate office space for the practice, Lyle might work mostly off-site. Or, if I am renting office space that includes reception staff Lyle’s services may not be required any more.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you can suggest any places for rent that are:

well under $3000/per month for a whole house, suitable as joint home and practice space;

OR, a nice house for rent that would meet most of the wish list except for the practice space (so it then could be in Oak Bay) for well under $2000/ per month;

AND/OR a nice practice space that you know of: Full-time space, level access or elevator and parking for patients for less than $1000 per month

we would love to hear from you.

I can reached at victoriaosteopath@gmail.com

Regards to All,

Howard