Incentives not needed by most landlords as demand outpaces supply

Promotional deals and move-in incentives for renters are drying up in most Canadian cities as rents continued to rise in the fourth quarter of 2022. 

In fact, a quick check revealed no incentives offered for prospective renters in Vancouver, the highest priced city for tenants.

Fewer promotions were found in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, and most were for one or two months free rent, or incentives for students. 

The two exceptions were Edmonton and Winnipeg where supply of rentals is ample and rents are relatively low for big cities. 

Promotions were plentiful and most creative in Edmonton: 

• Receive up to $2,112 off rent plus $300 move-in bonus on select suites and exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet.
• One month free rent on a 12-month lease; one year free TELUS TV & Internet; $600 Amazon gift card upon move-in on a 12-month lease.
• Up to $750 in rent credit; rent includes 40 per cent off on TELUS Internet, heat and one energized parking spot (intended for use by a vehicle block heater).

Incentives for renters were reviewed on the six rental sites of the Rentals.ca Network: Rentals.ca, Rentfaster.ca, Louer.ca, RentBoard.ca, TorontoRentals.com and RentCanada.com.

Below are some examples of renter incentives offered by landlords and property managers for five of the largest cities in Canada.

Toronto

1. https://www.torontorentals.com/toronto/tippett-park-two-id586298 – One month free rent.
2. https://www.torontorentals.com/toronto/699-eglinton-avenue-west-id532178 – Two months free rent on a one-year lease. 
3. https://www.torontorentals.com/toronto/34-noble-street-id577689 – Two months free rent. 
4. https://www.torontorentals.com/toronto/701-eglinton-avenue-west-id532177 – Two months free rent. 
5. https://rentals.ca/scarborough/1336-kingston-road – One month free rent.
6. https://rentals.ca/toronto/57-spadina – One month free rent at The Taylor.
7. https://rentals.ca/toronto/383-sherbourne-street – One  month free rent on a one-year lease. First year rental rate is equivalent to applying this free rent.
8. https://rentals.ca/toronto/40-alexander-street-3 – Specials rent referral promotion – earn $200. 
9. https://rentals.ca/toronto/2373-bloor-street-west – First month free on a three-month lease.
10.  https://rentals.ca/toronto/484-spadina-ave – $1,200 welcome bonus.

Montreal

1. https://louer.ca/en/montreal/112ruemcgill-599033 – One month free rent.
2. https://louer.ca/en/montreal/5929-5953hamilton-417939 – One month free rent.
3. https://louer.ca/en/montreal/3460peelstreet-577890 – Two months free rent.
4. https://louer.ca/en/montreal/5480avenuecoronation-495815 – Two months free rent.
5. https://rentals.ca/montreal/le-neuville – One month free rent.
6. https://rentals.ca/montreal/350-prince-arthur-west – 10 per cent off monthly rate and no exit cleaning fee.
7. https://rentals.ca/montreal/1180-rue-de-bleury – One month free rent.
8. https://rentals.ca/montreal/8405-place-saint-charles – One month free rent.
9. https://rentals.ca/montreal/154g-rue-charlotte – Free parking or 50 per cent off last month’s rent.
10.  https://rentals.ca/montreal/345-rue-de-la-gauchetiere-ouest – One month free.

 

Vancouver – NONE

 

Calgary

1. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/calgary/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/varsity/pet-friendly/31264?r=-RSYNC – Students get three months free rent.
2. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/calgary/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/university-heights/pet-friendly/20548?r=-RSYNC – Students get three months free rent
3. https://rentals.ca/calgary/20-40-skyview-ranch-landing-ne – One month free rent
4. https://rentals.ca/calgary/611-7-ave-se – Up to two months free rent.
5. https://rentals.ca/calgary/201-10-ave-se-10th-ave – $0 move-in, reduced pet fee, discounted Internet and cable and reduced security deposit.
6. https://rentals.ca/calgary/3520-31-st-nw – Exclusive discounts with local businesses such as Sleep Country, $50 NEO Financial Credit Card.

Edmonton

1. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/walterdale/pet-friendly/288628?r=-RSYNC – Receive up to $2,112 off rent plus $300 move-in bonus on select suites and exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet.
2. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/cromdale/pet-friendly/288635?r=-RSYNC – Receive up to $1,104 off rent plus $300 move-in bonus on select suites and exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet.
3. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/hairsine/pet-friendly/288675?r=-RSYNC – Receive up to $1,584 off rent on select suites and exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet.
4. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/9236-155-street-northwest – Inquire about limited time incentives, and how you can receive a $200 gift card.
5. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/oliver/450162?r=-RSYNC – One month free rent on a 12-month lease; one year free TELUS TV & Internet; $600 Amazon gift card upon move-in on a 12-month lease.
6. https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/2-bedrooms/tamarack/pet-friendly/340737?r=-RSYNC – Apply today and receive up to $750 in rent credit; rent includes 40 per cent off on TELUS Internet, heat and one energized parking spot.
7. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/10142-111-street – Free TELUS TV & Internet for one year;  $600 Amazon gift card upon move-in on a 12- month lease.
8. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/11212-102-avenue – For a limited time, select units are up to $100 off. See leasing office for details. One month free rent on a 12-month lease; two months free rent on a 14-month lease; free TELUS TV & Internet for one year; $600 Amazon gift card upon move-in on a 12-month lease.
9. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/10159-118-street –  One month free rent on a 12-month lease; free TELUS TV & Internet for one year.
10. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/the-lancaster-house – One month free rent.
11.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/hi-level-place – One month free rent.
12.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/7606-156-street – Ask about free rent.
13.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/1030-117-street-nw – One-half off first month rent.
14.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/9930-bellamy-hill-road-nw – One-half off first month rent.
15.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/10823-jasper-avenue-nw – One-half off first month rent.
16. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/3707-3711-whitelaw-lane – One-half off first month rent.
17. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/8610-8620-jasper-avenue – One month free rent.
18.  https://rentals.ca/edmonton/1828-keene-crescent-sw – 1,000 off first month’s rent.
19. https://rentals.ca/edmonton/1159-rosenthal-blvd – First month free rent.

Winnipeg

1. https://www.rentcanada.com/winnipeg-mb/70-park-east-drive/53909 –  One month free rent.
2. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/230-good-street – One month of free rent when you apply within 24 hours of viewing.
3. https://www.rentcanada.com/winnipeg-mb/812-allegheny-drive/25521 – One month free rent.
4. https://www.rentboard.ca/winnipeg-mb/525-thompson-dr/32427 – One month free rent.
5. https://www.rentboard.ca/winnipeg-mb/15-berwick-court/34818 –  One month free rent.
6. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/221-stradbrook-avenue-One – One month free rent.
7. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/425-ballantrae – One month free rent.
8. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/15-coopers-town-road – One month free rent.
9. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/835-sterling-lyon-pkwy – One month free rent.
10. https://rentals.ca/west-saint-paul/269-balderstone-road – First month free rent; $250 gas or grocery gift card.
11. https://rentals.ca/saint-adolphe/5-tourond-creek-drive – First month free rent; $250 gas or grocery gift card.
12. https://rentals.ca/west-saint-paul/3813-main-street-2 – First month free rent; $250 gas or grocery gift card.
13. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/480-charles-street – $500 move-in bonus.
14. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/2295-pembina-highway – $200 move-in bonus.
15. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/20-morrow-avenue-One – $500 move-in bonus.
16. https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/291-goulet-st – $500 move-in bonus.