Ottawa Rent Report, September 2026

Ottawa asking rents held close to August's level in September 2026. The average asking rent for apartments and condominiums was $2,164 per month, down 0.2% from August and 1.2% from a year earlier, according to the Rentals.ca and Urbanation National Rent Report published October 7, 2026. Ottawa's annual decline was the second smallest among Canada's six largest rental markets, behind only Montreal (-1.1%).

Nationwide, the average asking rent for apartments and condos was $2,038 in September, and the average across all property types was $2,034, down 4.2% year over year in the 24th consecutive month of annual declines. Ontario apartment and condo rents fell 0.8% from August, ending four consecutive monthly increases from May to August, and were down 3.7% 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 fell 1.1% over the year to $2,708 in September. CMHC's purpose-built averages sit below the $2,164 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 several suburban communities offer better 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

• 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

Around Ottawa (Rentals.ca, September 2026)

• Kanata: $2,476, the sixth most expensive market in Canada outside the six largest cities, up 5.6% over the year
• Gatineau: across the river in Quebec, down 9.4% over the year, one of the larger declines in the country

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 6.5% over the year to $1,035 in September, according to Rentals.ca. Nationally, purpose-built rental apartments posted the smallest annual decline of any property type, down 2.7% to $2,036.

Rentals.ca's October report describes the second consecutive monthly dip in national rents as a typical seasonal occurrence, with demand ramping up in the spring and summer and fading into the fall. It sees signs of stability emerging in Toronto and Vancouver, citing peaked construction inventory and new data revisions showing that a previously reported decline in population was actually a modest increase. In the near term, it says more affordable rents and move-in incentives are releasing pent-up demand from delayed household formation, after higher rents in previous years kept prospective renters living with parents or roommates for longer.

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 1.2% below last year's level
• Best value continues to sit in the suburbs (Barrhaven, Orleans) 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 October 2026 report will follow the next Rentals.ca National Rent Report, which covers October data.