Summer 2025 Renter Survey: What Canadians Are Spending, Prioritizing, and Searching For

Rentals.ca’s latest Renter Preference Survey for Summer 2025 reveals how much Canadians are spending on rent, what amenities they value most, and how their rental priorities differ by age, city, and budget. This summer, the rental market is undergoing significant changes, as revealed by this update, which highlights everything from affordability issues to renters’ desired features.

Affordability Front and Centre

 
– 34% of renters report spending more than half of their net (after-tax) income on rent.
– Only 22% are spending 30% or less, which is often considered the affordability benchmark.
– Younger renters (ages 18–24) are more likely to be in this high-spend group, even though they report the lowest budgets.

Despite financial constraints, 66% of renters who spend over 50% of their income say they don’t want a roommate.

 

 

Trends Among Renters Spending More Than 50% of Income

 

Renters allocating more than half of their income to rent experience the market differently:

– 46% have been searching for 6 months or more, vs. 29% of all renters
– 53% are dissatisfied with listings they’ve seen (vs. 44% overall)
– 57% are considering moving to a new city due to high prices
– 52% are searching for units under $1,499/month, despite allocating a large share of their income to rent

This group is more likely to experience long search times, higher frustration, and increased interest in relocating.

What Renters Are Willing to Pay More For

 

 

Despite budget pressures, many renters are open to paying a premium for certain features:

Amenity	Willing to Pay More (%)
In-unit Laundry	57%
Air Conditioning	44%
Parking	43%
Private Outdoor Space	34%
Pet-Friendly Policies	31%

– In-unit laundry is the top amenity across all age groups.
– A/C and parking rank high, especially among families or renters in larger buildings.
– Outdoor space and pet-friendly policies are valued by lifestyle-conscious renters.

Rent-to-Income Ratio (50%+), by Age Group

 

Age Group	Common Budget Range	% Spending Over 50% of Income
18–24	$1,000–$1,499	49%
25–34	$1,500–$1,999	40%
35–54	$1,500–$1,999	29%
55+	$1,500–$1,999	35%

 

Move-In Incentives: Mixed Reactions

 

Move-in incentives like free rent offers or utility discounts received varying responses based on age:

– 18–24-year-olds: 40% said incentives were “somewhat important”
– 25–34-year-olds: 38% said they were “very important”
– 35–54-year-olds: 46% said they were “very important”
– 55+ renters: Most were neutral, with 31% saying incentives didn’t strongly influence their decision

Renters in their late 20s to early 50s were the most responsive to incentives, while younger and older renters tended to weigh other factors more heavily. 

 

What Property Managers & Landlords Can Take Away

 

1. Affordability challenges are widespread, particularly among younger renters.
   2. In-unit laundry, A/C, and parking continue to top the amenity wish list.
   3. Move-in incentives are most effective for renters in their 30s and 40s.
   4. Renters with stretched budgets are more likely to consider relocation, especially if dissatisfaction with listings grows.
   5. Marketing listings with the right combination of core amenities and affordability signals could help shorten search times and increase renter satisfaction.

 

Methodology

The findings in this survey are based on responses from 510 individuals across Canada. The margin of error for the total sample is ±4.3% at a 95% confidence level, meaning that if the survey were conducted multiple times, the results would fall within this range 95% of the time.