What do Canadian renters truly want?
By David Gargaro
Knowing what renters want and need is an integral part of owning and managing rental properties. After all, renters are the lifeblood of your business. It’s essential to attract and retain good tenants who pay the rent consistently. This is even more important given the current state of Canada’s rental housing market. National vacancy rates are on the rise. Average asking rents are on the decline across the country, falling for the 17th consecutive month (as per Rentals.ca). The condo rental market is oversaturated because real estate investors cannot sell their units; a lot of this inventory have become rentals, creating more competition for tenants. Immigration has fallen 18 per cent year over year, negatively impacting demand for rental housing in some markets.
What’s going on with Canadian renters? And what do they truly want when looking for a place to live? Their preferences and choices can drive rental housing business decisions (as well as asking rents). RHB Magazine examined the findings in four reports to learn more about what’s happening in the rental housing market from renters’ point of view.
RentCafe.com Canada Renter Interest Report (Q4 2025)
To identify Canada’s top-trending rental markets, RentCafe.com analyzed millions of interactions on its website across 25 cities. Their analysis focused on four key indicators from Canadian properties listed on the platform: available listings, listing views, apartments saved as favourites, and saved personalized searches. The cities were scored and then ranked according to which ones attracted the highest level of interest from apartment-seekers.
Top cities
Canada’s top 10 trending cities for renter interest in the fourth quarter of 2025 were:
1. Moncton, NB
2. Hamilton, ON
3. Halifax, NS
4. Saskatoon, SK
5. Regina, SK
6. Victoria, BC
7. Vancouver, BC
8. Winnipeg, MB
9. Ottawa, ON
10. Edmonton, AB
“Several smaller and mid-sized cities attracted more renter interest in the fourth quarter than their population size might suggest,”
said Meherzad Bakht, Senior Sales Manager, Yardi Systems. “With steady engagement and continued visibility in the rankings, these markets remain strong alternatives to Canada’s largest urban centres, especially for renters focused on affordability and availability.”
Moncton led the rental rankings with a perfect score, due to increased interest in Atlantic Canada, affordability, quality of life, and increased economic momentum. Rental properties attracted interest from locals, as well as renters from Halifax, Montreal, and Toronto. Other smaller and mid-sized cities, like Saskatoon and Victoria, attracted more renter searches due to affordability and availability of rental properties. Hamilton saw the biggest jump in rankings (moving up 10 spots to 2nd on the list), due primarily to spillover demand from renters priced out of Toronto and the surrounding area.
Toronto improved in the rankings, rising to 12th on the list. Calgary fell out of the top 10 list to 15th. Montreal ranked 24th, putting it near the bottom of the list.
To read the full report, visit https://www.rentcafe. com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/canadarenter-interest-report .
simplydbs.com 2025 Canadian
Multi-Residential Satisfaction Study
The 2025 CMRS Study collected insights into residents’ living experiences, preferences, and satisfaction levels. Surveys were distributed to more than 300,000 residents across Canada through institutional, private, and REIT housing providers.
Reasons for renting
More than three-quarters (77%) of renters said they are actively choosing to rent rather than becoming homeowners. Location is the primary driver, as renting provided either the only or best opportunity to live in their preferred area. The other reasons were affordability, convenience of rental living due to access to maintenance and services, and lifestyle factors (e.g., recent relocation, transitioning from homeownership, reduced financial commitment).
Moving intention
Nearly one-half of renters (47%) plan to stay in their current units, which is a notable decrease from 2024 (59%). About one-fifth (21%) of respondents plan to relocate within the next 12 months, up from 14 per cent in 2024, while 32 per cent expect to move within one to two years. The primary reasons for moving include rental affordability and pricing, the intention to purchase a home, and relocations related to school, work or family circumstances. Residents living in newer buildings (less than 10 years old) are more likely to move in the coming years compared to those in older buildings (60% vs. 49%).
Most renters (89%) said rent incentives affected their decision to sign a lease; however, only 42 per cent received an incentive upon move-in. The most sought-after incentives were free parking, free storage, and rent discounts (e.g., 50 per cent off first two months).
Private spaces
Having access to private outdoor space (e.g., balconies) was the most desired feature among renters, with 94 per cent rating it as either essential or nice to have. Of those surveyed, approximately one-half said a balcony was essential. However, 22 per cent of respondents who initially rated a balcony as essential said they would reconsider and be open to shared outdoor space under certain conditions (e.g., lower rent). Unit size was another key consideration. There was a relatively equal divide between renters who would prefer a smaller suite in a newer building with a modern kitchen and bathroom versus a larger suite in an older building with more dated finishes. Younger renters (e.g., under 24, full-time students) declared a preference for small modern suites in a newer building.
Preferred amenities
In-suite laundry was one of the most indemand amenities, with over 90 per cent of respondents rating it as either essential or nice to have. Other highly ranked features included en-suite bathrooms, walk-in closets, entrance halls or closets, and bedrooms large enough to accommodate a king-size bed.
As a lot of people work from home, reliable high-speed wireless internet and strong cellphone service throughout the building ranked high among respondents. Nearly one-half of respondents said these were essential, with the majority expressing a strong preference for these amenities. Most respondents were also willing to pay more for these services. Other highly ranked amenities included shared workspaces, guest parking, and on-site property managers.
“Understanding who lives in your buildings, and what they value, need, and want, adds a critical layer of intelligence that helps guide decisionmaking about what to invest in and how to prioritize property improvements,” said Sarah Segal, CEO and Co-founder, simplydbs.
Technology preferences
The study found strong resident openness to technology in their buildings. Most residents reported being comfortable with AI-powered technologies, such as package delivery management and personalized notifications related to renting.
Respondents clearly identified their top technology priorities, led by controlled access for lobby and parking entrances (86%), non-key secure access such as digital entry systems (81%), and a property app for communications and maintenance requests (79%). Additional priorities include systems that allow rent payments to build credit (76%) and video doorbells for individual suites (74%), highlighting a demand for technology that improves both security and convenience in rental properties.
“There is clear demand for clean, well-run, and technology-forward properties. The key question is which technologies, amenities, operating models, and designs matter most, and for which residents. That’s where data helps drive smarter decisions and priorities for owners, managers, and developers,” said Segal.
To read the full report, visit https://simplydbs.com/ cmrs
Rentals.ca Winter 2025 Renter
Feedback Survey
Rentals.ca collected survey results from 503 renters across Canada. The survey examined how conditions in the rental market are evolving, covering topics including affordability, the impact of rent increases, the effectiveness of incentives, and difficulties faced during the home search.
2025 FRPO MAC AWARDS
The FRPO MAC Awards celebrate innovation, excellence, and leadership across Ontario’s dynamic rental housing industry. Each year, FRPO members showcase their commitment to delivering high-quality housing and exceptional service for residents. We’re inspired by our community’s dedication and can’t wait to see what they accomplish in 2026.
by Fitzrovia Sloane
Minto Apartments Minto Apartments At 88 Beechwood, At 88 Beechwood, people are welcome, too people are welcome, too
sloanelife.ca sloanelife.ca Sloane by Fitzrovia Sloane by Fitzrovia
Best Lobby Best Lobby Renovation of the Year Renovation of the
177 St George, Toronto 177 St George, Toronto Contractor: Sky Group Contractor: Group of Companies of Companies Minto Yorkville Minto Yorkville Contractor: Sky Group Contractor: Sky Group of Companies of Companies Contractor:
Best
Best Amenities - Best AmenitiesRenovation Renovation
Maddox by Fitzrovia Maddox by Fitzrovia Maddox Cabbagetown, Maddox Cabbagetown, Toronto Maddox
Rental Development of the Rental Development of the Year - 200 Units or Less Year - 200 Units or Development of Units or
The Rose Corporation The Rose Corporation
The Bakerfield II, Newmarket II, Newmarket Newmarket
Rental Development of the Rental Development of the Year - Secondary Market Year Secondary Market Development Year Market
Homestead Land Holdings Ltd. Holdings Ltd.
The Shipman II, St. Catherines Shipman II, St. Catherines Shipman
Property Manager
Property Manager Property Manager of the Year of Year
Leasing Professional Leasing Professional of the Year of the Professional
Best Amenities - Best AmenitiesNew Development New Development
Best New Sloane by Fitzrovia by Fitzrovia South Tower - Sloane, South Tower - Sloane, Toronto Toronto -
Rental Development of the Rental Development of the Year - Over 200 Units Year Over 200 Units
Rental of Over Dream Asset Management Corp, Dream Asset Management Corp, Kilmer Group & Tricon Residential Kilmer Group & Tricon Residential Birch House at Canary Landing Birch House at Canary Landing Management Residential Birch House at
Skyline Skyline
Climate Leadership Award Climate Leadership Award
Marios Proniaris Marios Proniaris Park Property Management Property Management Marios Adam McGuin Adam McGuin Equiton Living Equiton Living Living Skyline Skyline
Resident Manager Resident Manager of the Year of Year Manager
Marlene Canadian Properties
Marlene MacFarlane Marlene MacFarlane Canadian Apartment Canadian Properties REIT Properties
Customer Service Award Customer Service Award of Excellence of
Tricon Residential Tricon Residential
Company Culture Award Company Culture Award of Excellence of Excellence Culture
Community Service Award Community Service Award of Excellence - of Excellence
Community of
Supplier Member Supplier
Community Service Community Service Award of Excellence - Award ExcellenceRental Housing Provider Rental Housing Provider Rental Environmental Environmental Excellence Excellence
Affordability
Affordability is a primary concern for Canadian renters. Almost two-thirds (62%) of renters said that more than 30 per cent of their net income goes toward rent, while one-third (33%) spend more than one-half of their net income on rent. It’s a more significant issue in large urban markets, such as Toronto, where 70 per cent of renters spend more than 30 per cent of their net income on rent. Even though average asking rents have declined, 63 per cent of renters said their rent increased since the summer.
Not surprisingly, high rent price is the primary challenge for most renters (69%) in their search for a place live. The other challenges were poorquality listings (11%), the low supply of available rentals (9%), and scams (4%).
“High rents are a challenge across the country, which reinforces the fact that affordability is a national issue, not just a concern for those looking to live in a large city,” said Giacomo Ladas, Associate Director, Communications, Rentals. ca. “Rent increases are being felt across both large cities and smaller markets, compounding affordability challenges for renters already dedicating a significant share of their income to housing.”
When asked about what they wanted to spend for their next rental, renters reported price ranges that were below the prevailing asking rents. The majority (70%) said their budget was less than $2,000 per month. However, there were regional variations: Toronto renters were more likely seek rent in the $1,500 to $3,000 range, as compared to Vancouver renters reporting a budget well below asking rents.
Move-in incentives
Move-in incentives are an important factor in renters’ decision-making. Three-quarters (75%) of renters state that move-in incentives (e.g., free rent period) are either very important or somewhat important; only 11 per cent said incentives are not important. In higher-cost markets such as Toronto, renters are more likely to view incentives as essential to making a move more financially feasible.
To read the full report, visit https://rentals.ca/ blog/winter-2025-renter-feedback-survey-whatcanadians-are-facing-in-todays-rental-market liv.rent
2026
Canada Rental Market Trend Report
The report collected data from liv.rent listings, as well as data manually collected from other rental listing platforms. They also surveyed more than 750 renters and landlords to get their opinions.
Landlord profitability
There is a significant divide in renters’ perception and reality with respect to landlords deriving profits from their business. According to the
survey, 87 per cent of renters believe that landlords are profitable. However, only 34 per cent of landlords say they are making a profit. The percentage of renters who believe landlords are making substantial profits has declined since the previous survey (from 57 per cent to 47 per cent), so there is recalibration in how renters perceive landlords, but there is still a significant gap. There is alignment between renters and landlords on the competitiveness of the rental housing market. The percentage of renters who believe the rental housing market is “extremely competitive” has declined from 67 per cent in 2024 to 22 per cent in 2025 (47 per cent currently describe the conditions as manageable). Landlords are closely aligned, with 73 per cent reporting lower-thanexpected application volume or insufficient demand.
“The sense of extreme competition among renters has eased, with more now seeing viable options in the market,” said Matisse Yiu, Marketing Manager, liv.rent. “Meanwhile, landlords are reporting a slowdown in applications, pointing to a cooling market.”
Rent levels
There has been a shift in renter sentiment about rent levels, possibly because the leverage has shifted to tenants. Most renters (79%) view rents as fair or reasonable, which is an increase from 50 per cent in 2024. The percentage of renters who think rents are too high has fallen significantly from 43 per cent in 2024 to 16 per cent in 2025. In contrast, as landlords increasingly rely on incentives, 43 per cent report that current rents do not cover expenses.
Using AI
Although AI seems to have infiltrated every industry, it has not been widely adopted in the rental housing industry. Over the last 12 months, only 15 per cent of renters have used AI tools during their rental search over the last 12 months, while only 17 per cent of landlords have used AI tools to create or manage their listings.
For renters who have used AI, the top three uses are finding or filtering listing results, reading or summarizing lease documents, and checking or comparing rental prices. However, only 45 per cent of renters said AI shortened the time to secure a rental property. In fact, 40 per cent of renters felt that AI made the process longer. Conversely, 74 per cent of landlords said AI made their work more efficient, compared to only four per cent who said using AI to create rental listings took longer. Landlords primarily use AI to streamline operations, with 36 per cent leveraging it for listing descriptions, 17 per cent for pricing guidance, and 14 per cent for photo editing. To read the full report, visit https://liv.rent/blog/ rent-reports/2026-canada-rental-market-trendreport/.
