Toronto is among Ontario municipalities contemplating a recently authorized optional property tax subclass to convey discounted tax rates for newly constructed purpose-built rental housing.

The City of Mississauga has proposed an "Action Plan for New Housing" prioritizing the construction of affordable purpose-built rental projects.

The Ontario government announced it is taking steps to remove the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on qualifying new purpose-built rental projects.

Dutch institutional investment manager Bouwinvest has entered the Canadian rental market through a joint venture with Woodbourne Capital.

Policy makers could could further undermine rental housing supply and affordability prospects if market interventions divert institutional capital elsewhere.

Developers are facing escalating material costs, supply chain disruptions and labour shortages in step with climbing vacancies and falling rental rates that were not contemplated 18 months ago.

A new report from Urbanation confirms that GTA rental market recovery began in earnest during the second quarter of 2021.

The latest Urbanation survey of purpose-built rental apartments in Toronto show the vacancy rate rose to a 50-year high of 5.7 per cent in Q4-2020. 

Toronto's developing West Don Lands community could see a pair of high-rise rental towers in the not-so-distant future. Plans include office, retail and 198 affordable housing units.

SmartCentres and Greenwin announced that they have jointly acquired 1.15 acres in Toronto’s Yonge and Davisville neighbourhood for the development of a mixed-use rental property.

Apartment professionals ponder the uncertainties of the rental housing industry, including the critical steps needed to cultivate new supply.

A vacancy rate below 1 per cent, steadily rising rents, compressing cap rates for existing properties and ample access to low-cost financing underpin Victoria's purpose-built rental housing boom.

Purpose-built rental housing is gaining popularity with Ottawa developers due to low vacancy rates, high rents, condominium market dynamics and renewed confidence that local economic stability will translate into continued steady demand.

According to a recent report from the CBRE, demand for multi-family housing is stronger than ever in Canada and, as such, developers are shifting their focus to purpose-built rental housing. The CBRE says multi-family starts rose 52.2 per cent over the five-year average in 2014 as a result of low vacancy rates and a lack of affordable home ownership opportunities.

Balliol Park, located on Davisville Road between Yonge Street and Mt Pleasant, is just one of Toronto’s new purpose-built apartment projects currently under construction.

Vancouver-based architect Gregory Henriquez recently unveiled his vision for Toronto’s iconic Honest Ed’s site at Bloor St. and Bathurst St., which includes plans for 1,000 purpose-built rental housing units. In partnership with developer Westbank Corp., Henriquez revealed the conceptual Bloor & Bathurst community proposal for 55 buildings with residential, retail and restaurant space at a community meeting on March 3.

According to the Goodman report: 2014 Greater Vancouver Rental Apartment Review, the Greater Vancouver area experienced a record-breaking $778-million in apartment transactions in 2014, up 33 per cent from the previous year. The average price per suite also increased, year-over-year, to $237,000.