A new report released by Rentals.ca predicts that average rent in Canada will increase 6 per cent in 2019. Municipally, it foresees increases by as much as 11 per cent in Toronto, 9 per cent in Ottawa and 7 per cent in Vancouver.
Issued annually in December, The National Rent Report charts and analyzes national, provincial and municipal monthly rental market trends.
Commenting on key findings, industry analyst Ben Myers, president of Bullpen Research & Consulting Inc. revealed that the average Canadian rental property on Rentals.ca was listed at $1,754 per month in November 2018—a decrease of 4.4 per cent month-over-month. “The dip is not uncommon because fewer people move during the winter months,” he said.
“Toronto rents have been pulled up by recently completed high-design condo apartments for lease,” added Matt Danison, CEO of Rentals.ca. “Landlords can rent their inventory for significantly more than older rental apartments.”
A surge in demand has also added to the increase in rents. “There is trepidation among potential homebuyers following the bubble-like conditions and the subsequent price correction in the GTA housing market last year,” said Danison. “Many Torontonians are choosing to lease instead of buy, with existing tenants staying put to avoid paying the higher market-rate for an available unit. This phenomenon has reduced rental listings in this high-demand environment.”
Fueling that demand were several factors—including the new mortgage stress test, higher interest rates and the dramatic rise in home prices. “Many young couples and families have decided to postpone purchasing a home, which has driven two-bedroom rental rates to nearly $2,600 a month in Toronto and over $2,000 a month in Ottawa,” observed Danison.
With near record-high immigration in Canada and record-low unemployment, flat or declining resale house prices due to current and expected future credit tightening has deterred many would-be first-time buyers from entering the ownership market. “That demand overflow is being felt in the rental market, where very few Canadian markets are offsetting demand with new rental supply,” he said.
Suburban markets
Several Greater Toronto Area (GTA) municipalities are among the most expensive rental markets in Canada, with Oakville and Vaughan the highest among the suburban markets, and the former municipalities of Etobicoke, North York and East York tops among the ‘416’ area with rental rates rivalling Vancouver.
The recently-released Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) data shows rental apartment vacancy rates are at their lowest level in a decade, but the commonly cited CMHC rental rates cover the entire stock of rental apartment units, while Rentals.ca data looks primarily at vacated units (the flow rate), a better indicator of market rents.
Rentals.ca data shows the average market rental rates are 40 per cent to 60 per cent higher than CMHC figures, part of which can be explained by rent control preventing landlords from charging the actual market rate for a unit.
Expanded rent control in April 2017 is partially responsible for the low turnover rate in the Toronto area, which has lowered rental supply and pushed rents up 10 per cent to 15 per cent annually in some buildings in 2018.
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