Rentals.ca surveyed 1,194 renters across Canada in Spring 2026 to understand how they search, what they look for, and how they feel about the market they navigate. Respondents came from all major markets, with Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Calgary most represented.
High rent prices remain the dominant challenge by a wide margin. Most renters aren’t moving because they want to; they’re moving because they have to. AI use in the rental search is expanding, and the gap between what renters can afford and what the market is offering hasn’t closed.
Here’s what the data shows.
The Affordability Problem Isn’t Going Away
70% of respondents say high rent prices are the biggest challenge in their rental search right now. Unsuitable listings (11%) and low supply (6%) are a distant second. Affordability is the issue, and it’s not a close race.
What’s the Biggest Challenge in Your Rental Search?
% of respondents · Spring 2026 Renter Preference Survey (n=1,194)
High rent prices
70%
Unsuitable listings
11%
Other
11%
Low supply of listings
6%
What makes this finding especially notable is who’s saying it. Among renters with budgets under $1,500 per month, “high rent prices” is the overwhelming concern. But renters with higher budgets report a different problem: they cite low supply and unsuitable listings at much higher rates than the average. In other words, once you can afford the market, the next challenge is finding something worth renting. The problem shifts from price to product as budgets increase, but neither group is searching without friction.
Renters aren’t optimistic about improvement, either. Only 25% expect rental prices to decline over the next six months (18% moderate, 8% large decline). Meanwhile, 34% expect prices to remain about the same, and 12% expect a large increase. The majority of Canadian renters are planning their search around the assumption that costs will stay elevated or rise further. They’re not waiting for the market to come to them.
How Do You Expect Rental Prices to Change in the Next 6 Months?
% of respondents · Spring 2026
11%Large increase
27%Moderate increase
31%Remain the same
16%Moderate decline
7%Large decline
8%Unsure
Rent Outlook Varies Sharply by Market
% expecting prices to increase / stay the same / decline · by region
Expect increaseExpect sameExpect decline
Alberta
48%
26%
14%
Winnipeg/Manitoba
46%
30%
12%
BC/Vancouver
38%
29%
22%
Ontario ex-GTA
36%
32%
20%
National average
38%
31%
23%
Toronto/GTA
28%
33%
36%
Who’s Actually Looking
Before getting into what renters want, it’s worth understanding who they are, because the profile of the active Canadian renter is distinct.
Singles are the largest group by a significant margin. 42% of respondents are searching as solo renters, while 26% are couples without children. Families with children account for about 18%. This matters for unit-type demand, pricing, and what “desirable features” actually mean in practice. The typical Canadian renter is a couple or a single person looking for a unit that fits their budget.
Who Are Renters Planning to Live With?
% of respondents · Spring 2026
Single (alone)
42%
Partner, no children
26%
Partner with children
11%
With roommates
9%
Single parent with children
7%
Other
5%
Most are experienced renters. 37% have been renting for more than 10 years, and a significant majority (72%) have been renting for at least three years. Only 9% have never rented before, though that new-renter cohort has some distinct characteristics worth noting (more on that below).
Incomes skew lower than you might expect. 47% of respondents earn under $50,000 annually. Only 7% earn over $150,000. This is the population that is most directly exposed to rent increases and least able to absorb them, which puts context around the 70% affordability figure above.
Geographically, Toronto and the GTA, Ontario outside the GTA, Vancouver and BC, Winnipeg, and Calgary are the most represented markets. The findings below are national unless noted.
Why People Are Moving
The top reason renters are planning to move is to find a more affordable rental, cited by 40% of respondents. That’s the #1 answer by a wide margin, and it signals something important: most of the movement in Canada’s rental market right now is financially driven, not lifestyle driven.
Other reasons: wanting a larger space (30%), relocating for work or school (22%), wanting better amenities or building quality (22%), and unhappiness with a current landlord (16%).
Why Are Canadian Renters Moving?
% selecting each reason (multi-select) · Spring 2026
To find a more affordable rental
40%
Wanting a larger space
30%
Better amenities / building quality
22%
Better location or neighbourhood
22%
Relocating for work or school
22%
Unhappy with current landlord
16%
The “looking for something cheaper” motive is particularly pronounced in Alberta, where 48% of renters cite affordability as the reason for their move, the highest of any region, even though Alberta has among the lowest absolute rent levels in the country. What that tells us is that it’s not just the price level that’s driving renters to search; it’s the pace of change. Renters in markets that have seen rapid recent increases feel the financial pressures, regardless of where prices started.
Budgets vs. Reality
42% of renters are searching with a budget under $1,500 per month. Broken down: 12% are under $1,000, and 30% are targeting $1,000–$1,499. Another 30% are in the $1,500–$1,999 range. Only 18% can stretch to $2,000–$2,499, and fewer than 11% are searching above that. With an average asking rent in Canada currently priced at $2,029, very few have the budget to meet that price.
What Is Your Rental Budget for Your Next Place?
% of respondents · Spring 2026
12%
30%
30%
18%
8%
3%
0%
Under
$1,000
$1,000
$1,000–
$1,499
$1,499
$1,500–
$1,999
$1,999
$2,000–
$2,499
$2,499
$2,500–
$2,999
$2,999
$3,000–
$3,999
$3,999
$4,000+
That budget distribution looks very different depending on which market you’re in:
Vancouver/BC edges out Toronto as the highest-budget market: 35% of BC renters are budgeting $2,000 or more per month, compared to 33% in the Toronto/GTA area. Both markets are well above the national average. At the other end, 61% of Alberta renters have a budget under $1,500, which reflects the lower rent levels in that market.
Renters Budgeting $2,000+/Month, by Market
% of respondents in each region with a budget of $2,000 or more
BC/Vancouver
35%
Toronto/GTA
33%
Ontario ex-GTA
31%
Quebec/Montreal
21%
Winnipeg/Manitoba
15%
Alberta
13%
For renters in the sub-$1,500 range searching in Toronto or Vancouver, the math is increasingly difficult. These are budgets that are being steadily priced out of the markets where the majority of this survey’s respondents are looking to live.
What Renters Are Looking For
Unit type: 38% want a 1-bedroom, 35% want a 2-bedroom. Studios/bachelors account for 8%. Demand for 3-bedroom units sits at 14%, concentrated heavily among 35–54 year olds, which is the family-formation age range. The single-renter majority shows up clearly in these numbers.
What Unit Type Are Renters Looking For?
% of respondents · Spring 2026
1-bedroom
38%
2-bedroom
35%
3-bedroom
14%
Studio/bachelor
8%
4-bedroom+
5%
Property type: Apartments dominate at 52%, followed by condo apartments at 18%. Townhouses and entire homes account for the remainder. As with unit type, household composition is the clearest predictor here: singles overwhelmingly prefer apartments, while families with children are the only group that distributes meaningfully across entire homes, apartments, and townhouses.
Home Type Preference Shifts With Household Composition
% within each living situation group · Spring 2026
ApartmentCondoTownhouseEntire home
Single
64%
19%
Partner, no children
48%
22%
16%
10%
Roommates
52%
10%
14%
11%
Partner with children
27%
15%
26%
28%
Single parent
31%
17%
22%
20%
Age and budget interact in a predictable arc. The youngest renters (18–24) are the most budget-constrained, concentrated in the $1,000–$1,499 range with meaningful studio demand. The 25–44 cohort spends the most and wants the most space. Older renters (55+) trend back toward lower budgets, reflecting fixed or retirement incomes, but notably want more bedrooms, with 2-bedroom demand peaking among the 55–64 age group at 42%. These are likely renters who have downsized from ownership, not upsized from a studio.
Rent Control: Wanted, But Widely Misunderstood
36% of renters say they are only considering rent-controlled units for their next move. Just as interesting is the 41% who say they’re unsure whether rent control matters to their search. 4 in 10 renters don’t know where they stand on a policy that could directly affect the cost of their housing for years.
Are You Only Considering Rent-Controlled Units?
% of respondents · Spring 2026
36%Yes
41%Unsure
23%No
The regional picture makes this more interesting. Toronto has the highest rate of renters actively seeking rent control at 45%, but Winnipeg has the highest “Unsure” rate at 54%, despite Manitoba having rent control provisions.
Rent Control Awareness Varies Widely by Market
% responding Yes / Unsure / No · by region
YesUnsureNo
Toronto/GTA
45%
32%
23%
Ontario ex-GTA
38%
38%
24%
Quebec/Montreal
30%
42%
28%
BC/Vancouver
28%
49%
24%
Alberta
22%
37%
41%
Winnipeg/Manitoba
22%
54%
24%
The income data tells an equally clear story. Among renters seeking rent-controlled units, 51% earn under $50,000 per year and 77% have a budget under $2,000 per month. Among renters not prioritizing rent control, 34% earn under $50,000, and nearly 16% earn over $150,000. This suggests that seeking rent-controlled units is a risk management strategy prioritized by lower-income renters to guard against the potential risk of future rent increases.
Lower-Income Renters Are Far More Likely to Seek Rent Control
% seeking rent-controlled units by household income bracket
YesUnsureNo
Under $25,000
42%
41%
17%
$25,000–$49,999
40%
40%
20%
$50,000–$74,999
36%
41%
23%
$75,000–$99,999
33%
42%
25%
$100,000–$124,999
30%
42%
28%
$125,000–$149,999
20%
27%
53%
$150,000–$199,999
17%
24%
59%
$200,000+
18%
27%
55%
The “unsure” group, notably, has almost the same income and budget profile as those actively seeking rent control, suggesting many of them are functionally in the same position, but simply haven’t translated that financial reality into a stated search preference.
New Renters: A Distinct Group
9% of respondents (about 108 people) say they have never rented before. They’re entering the market now, and their profile is distinct from the experienced-renter majority in several ways.
The median age is 27, and nearly 72% are under 35. The #1 reason they’re moving is relocation for work or school, cited by 41% of the group, rather than affordability or lifestyle. These are life-transition moves. They’re mostly single (42%) or with a partner without children (24%). They are mainly interested in apartments and condos, with very little demand for entire homes (2.8% vs. 9.7% for all respondents).
Their budgets are slightly higher, concentrated in the $1,500–$1,999 range, more than the overall population, and less likely to be under $1,000. This may reflect that new renters are entering the market without the anchor of legacy rent-controlled pricing. They’re budgeting for the market as it is today, not as it was when they last signed a lease.
The biggest challenge they report is the same as everyone else: high rent prices. Entering the market for the first time in a high-cost environment means that this demographic is fully exposed to market prices, which are significantly higher than they were just a few years ago, despite recent declines in asking rents.
Amenities and Incentives: What Actually Moves Renters
In-unit laundry is no longer a premium feature. It’s a baseline expectation. 67% of renters say they’d pay more for in-unit laundry, putting it well ahead of the next options: central air conditioning (45%), private outdoor space like a balcony or yard (40%), and parking (39%). Fitness facilities (27%) and 24-hour security (22%) round out the top six.
In-Unit Laundry Tops the List of Premium Amenities
% willing to pay more for each amenity (multi-select) · Spring 2026
In-unit laundry
67%
Central air conditioning
45%
Private outdoor space
40%
Parking
39%
Fitness facilities
27%
24-hour security
22%
On move-in incentives, free utilities are the clear winner at 43%. Free rent periods came second at 18%, followed by free parking at 11%. A notable 19% say they don’t actively seek incentives, so there’s a meaningful segment for whom the base value proposition of a unit matters more than any promotional offer on top.
Free Utilities Are the Most Valued Move-In Incentive
% selecting as most important move-in incentive · Spring 2026
Free utilities
43%
Don’t seek incentives
19%
Free rent period
18%
Free parking
11%
Reduced deposit
7%
Gift cards or merchandise
1%
AI in the Rental Search: An Emerging Tool
For the first time, this survey tracked AI tool usage in the rental search process. 29% of respondents say they’ve used AI tools (like ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to help with their apartment search. Among those who did, the experience was largely positive: 73% found it helpful (somewhat, very, or extremely helpful), and only 21% found it unhelpful.
Among AI Users, Most Rate the Experience Positively
% of AI users rating their experience · Spring 2026 (n=340)
Extremely helpful
12%
Very helpful
22%
Somewhat helpful
39%
Not very helpful
15%
Not helpful at all
6%
Unsure
6%
What are renters using AI for? The top applications are finding listings or neighbourhoods (57%), comparing rental prices (45%), understanding lease terms (40%), getting budgeting advice (38%), and writing messages to landlords (33%).
How Renters Are Using AI in Their Search
% of AI users selecting each use case (multi-select) · Spring 2026
Finding listings or neighbourhoods
57%
Comparing rental prices
45%
Understanding lease terms
40%
Getting budgeting advice
38%
Writing messages to landlords
33%
The adoption profile is interesting. Younger renters (25–34) are the most likely to use AI at 36%, but even renters 65+ show 23% adoption, suggesting AI search tools have a broader generational reach than you might assume. New renters are the most likely group of all to use AI at 38%, which makes sense: they’re entering an unfamiliar market and reaching for any navigation tool available.
AI Adoption Peaks Among Younger Renters, But Spans All Ages
% who have used AI tools in their search · by age group
32%
36%
30%
25%
22%
22%
18–24
25–34
35–44
45–54
55–64
65+
First-Time Renters Are the Most Likely to Use AI
% who have used AI tools in their search · by renting experience
Never rented before
38%
Less than 1 year
34%
1–2 years
34%
3–5 years
29%
6–10 years
27%
More than 10 years
23%
Higher-budget and higher-income renters are more likely users, as are condo-seekers, likely because condo rentals involve more research complexity, where AI assistance adds genuine value. Renters whose biggest challenge is unsuitable listings or low supply use AI more than those citing high rent prices, which also fits. AI is better suited to helping navigate search quality and availability than it is to solving the fundamental problem of affordability.
Toronto leads the country in AI adoption at 34%, ahead of Vancouver and Ontario ex-GTA (both 27%), and Alberta (26%). Winnipeg and Montreal trail at around 23%.
AI as a rental search tool is early-stage but growing. It’s a trend worth tracking quarter over quarter.
Methodology
This survey collected responses from 1,194 renters across Canada in Spring 2026. Respondents were asked about their current rental search, housing preferences, household composition, income, budget, and attitudes toward the rental market. The survey was distributed nationally with the strongest representation from Toronto/GTA, Ontario outside the GTA, Vancouver/BC, Winnipeg/Manitoba, and Calgary/Alberta.
For more data on Canadian rental market trends, visit Rentals.ca.
Rentals.ca is Canada’s premier online marketplace for renters and landlords, providing a comprehensive suite of tools and resources tailored to simplify the rental process. With an extensive selection of listings across the country, Rentals.ca offers user-friendly search functionality that helps renters find their perfect home efficiently. For landlords, Rentals.ca delivers effective advertising solutions to maximize visibility and fill vacancies faster. Committed to innovation and excellence, Rentals.ca aims to empower users with up-to-date market insights and expert guidance, making renting easier and more accessible for everyone.