Incentives and promotions to entice the best renters in Canada’s largest cities still abound, even as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.
During the height of the pandemic last year and in 2020, promotions flourished, but many believed they would evaporate as the pandemic diminished.
This is not the case after reviewing four rental sites in the Rentals.ca Network, Inc. – Rentals.ca, Rentfaster.ca, RentBoard.ca and Louer.ca.
Many promotions are offered for March and April by landlords and property managers in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg.
Vancouver is the one metropolitan area with only a few offerings, but the city had few promotional offers when the pandemic was sweeping the nation..
While renters can still find an abundance of incentives, they are not as creative or varied as those during the initial lockdown.
Most promotional offers for prospective tenants are for one or two months free rent with signed leases, gift cards, cash bonuses or free cable and/or Internet service for a prescribed period.
1. Toronto
Prospective tenants in Toronto can still find plenty of incentives – most are for one to two months free rent.
If you look hard enough, you can find a few gift card offers and move-in bonuses.
Many of the rental or leasing company promotions are for older buildings or newly renovated buildings compared to newer buildings, and these promotions will remain for the near future according to Rentals.ca
- https://rentals.ca/toronto/11-25-ordnance-street For a limited time, receive one-month free rent plus a one-year complimentary Altea Active membership on all one-year lease agreements. Receive a $1,000 move-in bonus on select suites only.
- https://rentals.ca/toronto/699-eglinton-avenue-west Receive a $2,500 Visa gift card when you move in
- https://rentals.ca/fr/a-louer-toronto/15-dundonald-street-id309739 One month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/toronto/730-dovercourt-road-doversquare-apartments One month free rent plus receive a $100 food delivery gift card
- https://rentals.ca/toronto/433-jarvis-street-1 One month free rent
- https://www.rentboard.ca/toronto-on/55-triller-avenue/34851 Two months free on select units when you sign a lease
- https://www.rentboard.ca/toronto-on/90-eastdale-avenue/34844 One month free rent
2. Montreal
In Montreal, many of the promotions are for one month’s free rent, and they are for older buildings or newly renovated units.
- https://rentals.ca/gloucester/981-gulf-place-1 Receive a $500 move-in bonus on select suites
- https://rentals.ca/saint-laurent/1650-1670-rue-deguire $100 laundry card
- https://rentals.ca/montreal/4820-chemin-de-la-cote-sainte-catherine-3 Limited time promotion of two months free rent for immediate move-in
- https://rentals.ca/montreal/1682-lincoln-ave Two months free rent for studios, two, three and four bedrooms at the signing of a 12-month lease
- https://www.louer.ca/appartement-a-louer-montreal-centre-ville-25zzfg/ One month free rent
- https://www.louer.com/apartments-for-rent-montreal-downtown-3555zzyl/ One month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/montreal/1212-avenue-des-pins-ouest Move in April 1 and get one month free rent on 18-month leases
3. Vancouver
Few incentives are offered for renters looking for a home in Vancouver. The city has the highest average rents in Canada, and a low vacancy rate. So, rental units are expensive and hard to find. Vancouver landlords did not offer many incentives during the height of the pandemic and are not offering many now.
- https://rentals.ca/vancouver/4188-yew-street One-half month free rent on a one-year lease; one month free rent on a two-year lease; signing bonus of $250.
- https://rentals.ca/vancouver/1668-davie-st One month free rent on a one-year lease; two months free rent on a two-year lease; signing bonus of $250
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/bc/vancouver/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/west-end/pet-friendly/426854 One month free rent on a one-year lease; two months free rent on a two-year lease; signing bonus of $250
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/bc/port-moody/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/446339?-RSYNC Free TELUS for one year* free $100 (minimum) Compass card* Ask about incentives for those 50+
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/bc/vancouver/rentals/apartment/2-bedrooms/downtown/360532?-RSYNC 25 per cent off any TELUS Optik TV and Internet product monthly
- https://rentals.ca/vancouver/825-east-8th-avenue One month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/vancouver/1255-pendrell-street One month free rent
4. Calgary
Prospective tenants can find a lot of incentives and discounts in Calgary which has a higher vacancy rate and cheaper rents.
Many landlords and property managers offer one to two months free rent, and some also throw in cash bonuses, gift cards or discounts on services.
Common incentives include student rentals, senior, military and first-responder discounts as well as complimentary or discounted cable and Internet. A variety of incentives are available for new and old buildings.
Incentives here are likely to last for the longterm because of the higher vacancy rates according to rentals.ca.
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/calgary/rentals/apartment/2-bedrooms/banff-trail/454707 Receive a $250 signing bonus when you refer a friend (Please inquire for more details); rent now and receive one month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/2905-unwin-rd-nw Rent today and save up to one month plus receive a $200 Energy Savings Credit with the most exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet; students receive a $300 move-in bonus
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/l208-1919-university-dr-nw Rent today and save up to one month plus receive a $200 Energy Savings Credit with the most exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet. Students receive a $300 move-in bonus
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/611-7-ave-se Two month free rent plus one year free heated parking
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/2010-ulster-rd-nw Rent today and save up to one month plus receive a $200 Energy Savings Credit with the most exclusive rates on TELUS Optik TV and high-speed Internet; students receive a $300 move-in bonus
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/trailside-at-skyview-ranch $500 off first month rent
- https://rentals.ca/calgary/2416-16th-avenue-nw Receive a $250 signing bonus when you refer a friend (Please inquire for more details); rent now and receive one month free rent (Some conditions apply, please inquire for more details)
5. Edmonton
Edmonton has even cheaper rent and a higher vacancy rate than Calgary.
Incentives and discounts are plentiful with one to two months free rent offered along with cash bonuses, gift cards and discounts on services. A variety of incentives are available for new and old buildings.
A lot of packages include deals on cable and Internet, and Visa and Amazon gift cards are also part of some incentives.
Incentives here are likely to last for the longterm because of the higher vacancy rates according to rentals.ca.
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/studio/queen-mary-park/pet-friendly/395236 Pick your promotion: When signing a one-year lease, choose between half off your first month’s rent or take an additional $30 off monthly rent
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/2-bedrooms/glenridding-heights/pet-friendly/373527 Security deposit reduced to $150 for military and first responders (conditions apply, see us for details); Sign up with no term and save 40 per cent each month on any TELUS Optik TV and Internet product; $500 off first month’s rent
- https://rentals.ca/edmonton/11808-100th-avenue One month free on a 12-month lease; one year free TELUS TV & Internet; $600 Amazon gift card upon move-in on a 12-month lease; reduced damage deposit: $395; reduced damage deposit of $100 for health-care workers, government workers, military, police, and 50+; free early possession, subject to unit availability
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/rosenthal/pet-friendly/448914 TELUS Internet & TV free for one year (sign a two-year contract and receive your first year free; promotion applies to fixed-term leases; conditions apply; see us for details; chance to win a $1,000 gift card
- https://rentals.ca/edmonton/2504-110-street-northwest Rent today and receive our pre-leasing bonus package: Up to two-months free rent; up to $1,000 pro-rated rent credit; free TELUS PureFibre Internet and Optik TV for one year. $500 security deposit
- https://www.rentfaster.ca/ab/edmonton/rentals/apartment/1-bedroom/oliver/pet-friendly/403329 Two months free rent when you move in by March 15
- 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
6. Winnipeg
In Winnipeg, incentives are offered for older and newer buildings, and many are for discounts on rent or one or two months’ free rent, according to rentals.ca
Some student rental incentives include Internet discounts and move-in credits.
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/1085-court-avenue One month free rent; $250 gift card
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/the-pinnacle-at-bridgwater $500 move-in credit
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/165-kennedy-street One month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/191195-cathedral-avenue Great rental price plus Internet included plus $500 move-in bonus
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/380-osborne-street One month free rent
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/290294298-beliveau-rd $500 move-in bonus on March move-in’s
- https://rentals.ca/winnipeg/30-university-cres free Wi-Fi and $1,000 move-in bonus
