The Rent Report

006 - May 2026 Data Dive, with David Aizikov and Giacomo Ladas

Is the rental market finally turning a corner? After 19 consecutive months of year-over-year rent declines, April 2026 brought the first increase in active rental prospects in over a year and a half. But whether that signals a real shift or just seasonal noise is only part of the story. In this episode, we're joined by David Aizikov, Product Manager for Data Services at Urbanation, and Giacomo Ladas, Associate Director of Communications at Rentals.ca, to break down the May 2026 rent data and what it means for renters, property owners, and investors across Canada. They cover the explosion of rental incentives (one in two purpose-built listings now offers a concession, worth more than a full month's rent on average), the growing divide between recovering urban cores and struggling suburban markets, and why cities like Surrey and Brampton are bearing the brunt of investor stress. The conversation also gets into where demand is actually going to come from in a year of near-zero population growth, why three-bedroom units have quietly become the hottest segment in the market, and how the cultural stigma around renting in Canada is starting to crack. Plus: a preview of Rentals.ca's upcoming renter preference survey, including early data on incomes, search behaviour, and how Canadians are (and mostly aren't) using AI in their apartment hunt.

005 - Condos, Rentals, and Land Sales - Q1 2026 Roundup, with Shaun Hildebrand

In this episode of The Rent Report by Urbanation, Shaun Hildebrand, President of Urbanation, breaks down the Q1 2026 market reports covering the full arc from national rental trends down to individual submarkets across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area and the Outer Greater Golden Horseshoe. The headlines are striking: new condo sales in the GTHA hit a 35-year low. Canada posted its first-ever annual population decline. Purpose-built rental vacancy jumped to a post-pandemic high. And in the Outer GGH, new condo months of supply crossed 100, meaning at current absorption rates it would take over eight years to clear existing inventory. But the picture isn't entirely bleak. Condo lease transactions hit a Q1 record. Purpose-built rental construction starts reached a multi-decade high. And a major supply cliff on the horizon, with condo completions projected to fall dramatically through 2027 and beyond, could set the stage for a sharp reversal in market conditions within a few years. Shaun digs into what all of it means for renters, buyers, developers, and investors navigating one of the most complex housing markets in recent Canadian history. Urbanation subscribers can access the full versions of all reports on the Urbanation data portal.

004 - April 2026 Data Dive, with David Aizikov and Giacomo Ladas

In this month's Data Dive, David Aizikov and Giacomo Ladas join us to take a closer look at the latest National Rent Report by Urbanation and Rentals.ca, unpacking the trends behind the headlines and what they signal for Canada's rental market. Rents have now declined on an annual basis for 18 consecutive months, and the market is on the verge of a milestone: average asking rents are edging back below $2,000 a month nationally, effectively reversing three years of rent inflation. But as this episode explores, falling rents aren't entirely good news. With youth unemployment approaching 15% and real wages for young Canadians declining after inflation, softening rents are as much a signal of economic strain as they are a win for affordability. The conversation also tackles the big supply question: with cranes dotting skylines across the country, are we building too much? David and Giacomo argue that the narrow view says yes, but that the same short-term thinking left Canada in a 40-year construction deficit that created this crisis in the first place. The group also examines the growing pressure on small landlords, who are being forced to negotiate rent reductions and retention incentives to compete with newer, amenity-rich purpose-built rentals, all while their operating costs remain unchanged. Finally, the episode looks ahead at a looming crunch: construction starts have collapsed, but population growth is projected to return by 2027, raising the very real possibility that today's vacancy relief becomes tomorrow's supply shortage all over again. Tune in for expert insights, data-driven analysis, and a forward-looking perspective on the key indicators to watch in the months ahead.

003 - Renting vs Buying in Canada, with Ben Felix - The Rent Report Podcast 003

It's often said that homeownership is one of the best investments you can make, while renting is simply "throwing your money away," but what does the actual data say? In this episode of The Rent Report, we sit down with Ben Felix (Chief Investment Officer at PWL Capital) to break down the numbers behind renting vs buying in Canada. Using data from 12 major cities over nearly two decades, Ben's research explores how renting and investing can match or even outperform homeownership and why the analysis isn't as straightforward as most people think. Ben Felix: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDXTQ8nWmx_EhZ2v-kp7QxA [https://www.youtube.com/@UCDXTQ8nWmx_EhZ2v-kp7QxA] Renting vs Owning a Home in Canada, 2005-2024: https://pwlcapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PWL-Capital-Renting-vs.-Owning-a-Home-in-Canada-2005-2024.pdf [https://pwlcapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PWL-Capital-Renting-vs.-Owning-a-Home-in-Canada-2005-2024.pdf] Rational Reminder Podcast: https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast-directory [https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast-directory] PWL Capital: https://pwlcapital.com/ [https://pwlcapital.com/]

002 - March 2026 Data Dive, with David Aizikov and Giacomo Ladas

Check out the latest National Rent Report: https://rentals.ca/national-rent-report In this month's Data Dive, David Aizikov and Giacomo Ladas join us to take a closer look at the latest National Rent Report by Urbanation and Rentals.ca, unpacking the trends behind the headlines and what they signal for Canada's rental market. While rents have now declined on an annual basis for 17 consecutive months, the story is far from straightforward. This episode explores emerging signs of stabilization in major markets, the impact of record-high supply alongside softening demand, and how shifting renter behaviour is influencing pricing across the country. The conversation also dives into improving affordability, the growing prevalence of smaller units, and the mounting pressures facing developers, from rising construction costs to lengthy approval timelines. Together, these factors are reshaping the rental landscape and raising important questions about what a balanced market looks like moving forward. Tune in for expert insights, data-driven analysis, and a forward-looking perspective on the key indicators to watch in the months ahead.