Market Overview
Montréal stands out among major Canadian metros as one of the few markets still posting strong annual rent growth in mid-2026. Overall average rents held at $1,910 per month according to Zumper's June 2026 Montréal rent research, up approximately 4% year-over-year despite modestly higher vacancies.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) noted in its 2026 mid-year rental market update that Montréal continues to be one of the country's strongest major markets by annual rent growth (+7.6% on some measurements). This reflects Montréal's historically low starting rents relative to Toronto and Vancouver, coupled with sustained migration into Québec.
Montréal's vacancies rose in Q1 2026 and turnover declined across most rent quartiles, indicating that while more units became available, tenants were less responsive or willing to move, reflecting the tenant-friendly Régie du logement rent-increase framework.
Average Rents by Unit Size
Montréal remains substantially more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver on a per-bedroom basis, though the gap has narrowed. The Québec-specific Régie du logement rent guidelines apply to existing tenancies but not to new leases, so turnover creates significant rent resets.
Asking rents (Zumper, June 2026)
- Overall average: $1,910 / month
- 1 Bedroom: $1,798 / month
- 2 Bedroom: $2,272 / month
Other data sources (May 2026)
- 1 Bedroom unfurnished (liv.rent): $1,636 / month · -4.3% YoY (May 2026 reading)
The variation between sources reflects the difference between asking rents on new listings (Zumper, higher) and averaged listings from various sources including furnished/unfurnished (liv.rent, lower). Both are legitimate reference points depending on renter search behavior.
Neighborhood Landscape
Montréal's rental market splits meaningfully by borough. Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Mile End, and Downtown command the highest rents thanks to walkability, culture, and proximity to universities and employment.
Premium areas
- Le Plateau-Mont-Royal: Cultural core, walkable, historic
- Mile End / Outremont: Boutique neighbourhoods, high demand
- Downtown / Griffintown: Newer condo inventory, transit hub
- Old Montréal: Waterfront-adjacent, tourist-friendly
- Westmount: Premium residential enclave
Best-value areas
- Verdun: Waterfront value, transit-accessible
- Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie: Family-friendly, moderate rents
- Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension: Diverse, budget-conscious
- Hochelaga-Maisonneuve: East end gentrifying, still affordable
- Ahuntsic-Cartierville: Northern boroughs, family-sized units
Supply and Vacancy
Montréal's rental market showed rising vacancies in Q1 2026 alongside declining turnover, according to CMHC observations. The rising vacancies reflect record new purpose-built rental completions and continued condo delivery. The declining turnover suggests tenants who are well-priced (especially those benefitting from Régie du logement rent-increase limits) are staying put.
New purpose-built completions have concentrated in Griffintown, along the Lachine Canal, and in mid-town corridors. Universities' continued strong enrolment has kept student-heavy neighbourhoods (Plateau, Milton-Parc, Mile End) tight even as broader supply grows.
Montréal's rent growth momentum reflects the low starting-point effect: even after strong nominal increases, rents remain well below those in Toronto and Vancouver on a per-bedroom basis.
Outlook
Montréal's outlook is unique among major Canadian cities: continued modest rent growth is likely through 2026, driven by structurally low starting rents, sustained population growth, and Québec's tenancy framework which limits existing-tenancy increases while allowing full market resets on turnover.
What this means for renters
- Existing-tenancy rent-control benefits are significant, staying put pays
- New leases will price at market, which continues to rise annually
- Neighbourhoods outside Plateau / Downtown offer the best affordability
- Régie du logement provides recourse if landlords propose non-compliant increases
What this means for landlords
- Montréal remains one of the few major metros with real rent-growth momentum
- Turnover creates full market-reset opportunity per Québec rules
- New-build inventory faces more competition than in prior years
- Griffintown / downtown-adjacent inventory needs sharpest pricing discipline
SQRFT's July 2026 Montréal report will publish on the last business day of July.
What it means for you
Turn the market shift into a smarter decision
If you own a rental
LandlordsTAL sets your renewal ceiling. Quebec has no legislated cap, but the Tribunal administratif du logement publishes annual renewal guidelines. Increases beyond them can be contested by the tenant.
Lease assignment is a Quebec superpower for tenants. Under recent reforms, tenants can assign the lease to a new renter, transferring the existing rent. Refusing without a serious reason opens you to a TAL challenge.
New buildings are absorbing slower. Vacancy is rising off historic lows. Concessions on high-end new-builds are appearing for the first time in years.
If you rent
TenantsSection G of the lease matters. The prior rent must be disclosed on Quebec's mandatory lease form. That is your baseline for pushing back on any increase.
Consider a lease assignment. If you have to leave mid-term, assigning the lease keeps your protections intact for the next tenant and lets you avoid re-signing at market rates.
TAL is your recourse. The Tribunal administratif du logement handles rent-fixing, evictions, and repairs. Filing costs are low relative to other provinces.
QUEBEC'S TAL BACKLOG IS REAL
Montréal tenancies live under TAL rules that reward the party with better paperwork.
The TAL is one of Canada's busiest housing tribunals, and Quebec's unique rules (mandatory lease form, Section G disclosure, lease assignment) reward the party with the tightest paperwork. sqrft.ca supports Quebec landlords and tenants with a bilingual TAL-compliant lease workflow, a timestamped move-in inspection, and a complete communication log tied to each tenancy.