Vancouver renters: An endangered species

I've heard that the vacancy rate is about 1 percent, and now I believe it. Few apartments are rentals, and those that are rentals are rent very quickly. The headline in a weekly newspaper called renters and "endangered species" because there is no availability.
Renters have until the end of July to give notice to leave through the end of August. No one would give notice this early because they don't want the listing agents to start showing the apartment while they're living there.
We've been looking at Coal Harbour, which overlooks the harbour (English spelling here) and the mountains. We haven't had much luck yet, but with persistence we'll find a place. We may have to cut our vacation short so we can head back here by late July to get a place for Sept. 1.