Ottawa Rent Report, August 2026

Ottawa asking rents firmed in August 2026. The average asking rent for apartments and condominiums was $2,168 per month, up 1.1% from July and down 1.6% from a year earlier, according to the Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report published September 9, 2026. That was the largest monthly gain among Canada's six largest rental markets, and Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto posted the smallest annual declines of the six.

Nationwide, the average asking rent for apartments and condos was $2,040 in August, and the average across all property types was $2,035, down 4.8% year over year in the 23rd consecutive month of annual declines. Ontario apartment and condo rents rose 0.4% from July and were down 3.5% over the year.

Vacancy remains relatively tight. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recorded a purpose-built rental vacancy rate of 2.9% in October 2025 for the Ottawa CMA, its most recent authoritative survey.

The table below shows CMHC's in-place averages for Ottawa's existing purpose-built stock as of October 2025. These reflect what current tenants pay across the market, not new-listing asking prices.

• Studio (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,332 / month
• 1 Bedroom (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,593 / month
• 2 Bedroom (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,916 / month
• 3 Bedroom+ (CMHC, Oct 2025): $2,090 / month
• All apartments (CMHC, Oct 2025): $1,743 / month

On asking rents, Rentals.ca reported that Ottawa three-bedroom units were essentially flat over the year in August, down 0.1% to $2,731. CMHC's purpose-built averages sit below the $2,168 apartment and condo asking rent because asking rents capture new-listing prices, while CMHC's data reflects the broader purpose-built stock including existing tenancies. Both are useful, but they measure different things.

Central and inner-city neighborhoods continue to command the highest rents in Ottawa, while suburban communities to the west, south, and east offer the best value per bedroom. Walkable areas near downtown and the universities draw steady rental demand.

Higher-priced areas

• Centretown and Downtown, the walkable core
• The ByWard Market, historic core with nightlife and amenities
• The Glebe, premium mature neighborhood near the canal
• Sandy Hill, university-adjacent to uOttawa with strong rental demand

Best-value areas

• Kanata, in the west, the tech employment corridor
• Barrhaven, in the south, newer suburban supply and value pricing
• Orleans, in the east, family-oriented suburban value
• Vanier, inner-city relative value close to the core

Neighborhood-level rent averages fluctuate month to month based on listing mix. For in-place rents by area, see the CMHC neighborhood rent tables which are updated on CMHC's schedule.

Ottawa's vacancy rate sat at 2.9% in October 2025 across the purpose-built rental stock, according to CMHC. That is a relatively balanced reading, loose enough to give renters some choice while remaining tight compared with the most oversupplied markets in the country.

Vacancy by unit type (CMHC, October 2025)

• Studio: 3.5%
• 1 bedroom: 3.0%
• 2 bedroom: 2.8%
• 3 bedroom or more: 1.7%
• Overall: 2.9%

Larger units, three bedrooms and up, remain the tightest segment at 1.7%. Shared accommodation is cooling: the average asking rent for a room in Ottawa fell 5.1% over the year to $1,055 in August, according to Rentals.ca. Nationally, purpose-built rental apartments posted the smallest annual decline of any property type, down 3.3% to $2,038.

Rentals.ca describes the national outlook as increasingly uncertain. Its September report points to new US tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs, the record volume of apartment completions and a declining population as near-term headwinds, partly offset by pent-up demand entering the market as affordability improves. It also notes that the large markets that set the national tone carry far less direct tariff exposure than the auto and steel communities of southwestern and central Ontario.

For most units covered by rent control, Ontario's rent-increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. Increases above it generally require Landlord and Tenant Board approval, and units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline.

What this means for renters

• Asking rents are still below last year's level, even after August's monthly gain
• Best value continues to sit in the suburbs (Barrhaven, Orleans, Kanata) and Vanier
• Most annual increases on covered units are limited to Ontario's guideline
• Disputes go to Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board

What this means for landlords

• Realistic pricing still matters with asking rents below last year
• Quality photos and detailed listings win the competition for attention
• Use the Ontario Standard Lease and stay within the guideline on increases
• Renewals are cheaper than turnover, offer existing tenants a fair renewal rate

SQRFT's September 2026 report will follow the next Rentals.ca National Rent Report, which covers September data.