Renters’ Guide: Canada’s Most (and Least) Tenant-Friendly Cities
Finding a home to rent in Canada is becoming increasingly difficult. Rental prices rose 9% in the last year, with an average rent in Canada now at $2,178 per month.
Some places have good rules to protect renters, lots of empty apartments, and fair prices. Other cities? Not so much! They have tough competition for apartments, weak rules for tenants, and prices that keep going up.
This guide will discuss what conditions make a city good or bad for renting. We will also take you through the best and the worst places to rent in Canada.
What Affects Tenant-Friendliness?- A Renter’s POV
How good a Canadian city is for renters depends on the economy and laws that affect what you can afford, how secure your home is, and how well you can live there.
Here are the main things that make renting different from place to place.
Average income-to-rent ratio
How much of your money goes to rent?
Ideally, rent should take up no more than 30% of what you make before taxes.
In big cities like Toronto ($2,374 for a one-bedroom) and Vancouver ($2,534), many people pay way more than 30%. On the other hand, places like Sherbrooke, QC ($926) and Wood Buffalo, AB are much better deals. In these cities, over 80% of renters spend 30% or less of their money on housing.
Cost of living
It's not just about rent! You also need to think about food, bills, and getting around town.
Vancouver and Toronto cost a lot for everything, which makes it hard to save money. But places like St. John's, NL, and Quebec City are cheaper overall, so renters there can breathe easier.
Alberta and Saskatchewan have lower rent, but other costs are going up, so it's still getting harder to afford living there.
Tenant rights & protections
Eviction Process
Landlords need real reasons to kick you out, such as not paying rent, breaking the rules, or doing renovations.
They must give you a letter ahead of time, usually 2-3 months before.
For some kinds of evictions, like if they want to move in themselves, they might need to pay you.
Maximum security deposit
In Ontario, you only have to put down last month's rent.
In British Columbia and Alberta, you pay one month's rent as a deposit.
Rent Increase
Ontario, BC, and Manitoba have limits on how much rent can go up (like 2.5% in Ontario for 2024).
Alberta and Saskatchewan don't have any limits at all.
Maintenance & Repair Regulations
Landlords have to keep places safe and healthy.
BC and Ontario have strong rules about this and help for tenants.
Tenant Privacy Laws
Landlords must tell you 24 hours before they come to your place.
They can't come in without your OK unless there's an emergency.
Tenant Screening Policies
Landlords usually ask for:
Proof you have a job (pay stubs, letters from work).
Credit reports (you might need a score of 640-700 in tough markets).
People who can say you were a good renter before.
Vacancy Rate
When there aren't many empty apartments, renting gets harder and more expensive.
For example, Vancouver (0.9%) and Toronto (1.1%) have very few open places, so renters don't have many choices.
Montreal and Ottawa are a bit better with 2-3% empty, while Saskatoon, Regina, and St. John's have more options with over 4% of places empty. Across Canada, only about 1.5% of rental homes are empty, which shows we need more housing.
Canada’s Most Tenant-Friendly Cities- Our Top Picks For You
Niagara Region, Ontario
Average Rent: ~$1,200 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Vacancy Rate: 2.7% in 2022, improving rental availability.
Tenant Protection: Ontario rent control applies, limiting increases.
The Niagara area, with towns like St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, is great for renters. Rent won't break the bank here. Also, it's getting easier to find places to live. You're protected too, since Ontario has rules about how much rent can go up each year. It's a solid choice if you want a stable place to call home in Ontario.
Want to know more about Niagara real estate market? Check out Niagara Home Portal.
St. John's, Newfoundland
Average Rent: For a one-bedroom apartment, it is $916 per month.
Vacancy Rate: The vacancy rate stands at 1.7%.
Tenant Protection Laws: Newfoundland and Labrador have rules that stop big rent jumps and make it clear when and how you can be asked to move out. This gives both landlords and renters a fair deal.
Quebec City, Quebec
Average Rent: About $1,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Vacancy Rate: The vacancy rate is 2.5%.
Tenant Protection Laws: Just like in Sherbrooke, Quebec City has strong rules that stick up for renters.
Canada’s Least Tenant-Friendly Cities- High Living Costs!
Vancouver, British Columbia
Average Rent: A one-bedroom apartment costs around $2,700 per month.
Vacancy Rate: The vacancy rate is super low at 0.9%.
Tenant Protection Laws: BC does have some rules about rent increases, but since so many people want to live there and so few places are open, it's hard to find a good deal.
Toronto, Ontario
Average Rent: A one-bedroom apartment costs about $2,199 per month.
Vacancy Rate: In 2024, the vacancy rate went up to 2.3%, which is a bit higher than usual for the last 10 years.
Tenant Protection Laws: Renting in Ontario has rules that stop big rent jumps for homes built before November 2018. But newer places don't have these rules, so your rent might jump a lot.
The Bottom Line
Renting in Canada is different everywhere you go. Some cities have cheap rent and good rules to protect you. But, in other places, it can be hard to find a good home.
If you know your rights as a renter and keep up with what's happening, you can find a place that works for you and fits your money situation, no matter where you are.
