Skip to content
CMHC Home Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation
  • Sign In or Register
  • Français
  • MENU
MENU
× Français
  • Home
  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
      • Funding programs
        • Affordable Housing Fund
        • Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
        • Apartment Construction Loan Program
        • Canada Greener Affordable Housing
        • Community (social) housing
        • Federal Lands Initiative
        • Funding for Indigenous housing
        • Housing Supply Challenge
        • Innovation and research
        • National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
        • Rapid Housing Initiative
      • Mortgage Loan Insurance Products
        • Homeowner and Small Rental Mortgage Loan Insurance
          • CMHC Purchase
          • CMHC Improvement
          • CMHC Income Property
          • CMHC Refinance
          • CMHC Newcomers
          • CMHC Self-Employed
          • CMHC Portability
          • Eco Products for Lenders
        • Multi-Unit and Rental Housing
          • MLI Select
        • Default, claims and properties for sale
        • Underwriting centre
        • emili
        • NHA approved lenders
        • Calculating GDS / TDS
        • How to recognize and report mortgage fraud
        • Contact mortgage loan insurance
        • Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP)
      • Securitization
        • NHA Mortgage Backed Securities
        • Canada Mortgage Bonds
        • Canadian registered covered bonds
        • Blockchain in the housing industry
    • Housing markets, data and research
      • CMHC Reports Calendar
      • Housing markets
        • Housing market reports
        • Mortgage market and consumer reports
        • Fall 2024 Rental Market Report
      • Housing research
        • Consultations
          • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
            • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act – Frequently asked questions
        • Housing research reports
        • Housing surveys
          • Mortgage consumer surveys
        • Research awards and scholarships
        • Understanding core housing need
        • Collaborative Housing Research Network
      • Housing data
        • Data tables
          • Household characteristics data
          • Housing market data
          • Mortgage and debt data
          • Rental market data
        • Housing market information portal
        • Residential Mortgage Industry Data Dashboard
        • CMHC licence agreement for the use of data
        • Housing Knowledge Centre
    • Industry innovation and leadership
      • Housing innovation
      • Our Partners
        • Partnerships
        • Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum on Housing
      • Industry collaboration
        • Expert Community on Housing (ECoH)
      • Industry expertise
        • Affordable housing
        • Indigenous housing
        • Senior housing
        • Accessible and adaptable housing
        • Developing sustainable housing
        • Resources for mortgage professionals
        • CMHC newsletters
    • Events and speakers
      • Conferences
        • 2024 National Housing Conference
          • About
          • National Housing Conference - Agenda
          • Location
          • InnoZone
          • Details for participants
      • Speakers’ bureau
        • Kevin Hughes
  • Consumers
    • Buying a home
      • Homebuying calculators
        • Mortgage calculator
        • Affordability calculator
        • Debt service calculator
      • Buying guides
        • Homebuying step by step
        • CMHC's condominium buyer's guide
      • Mortgage loan insurance for consumers
        • What is CMHC mortgage loan insurance?
        • Do I qualify for mortgage loan insurance?
        • CMHC mortgage loan insurance costs
        • CMHC's Eco Products
          • CMHC’s Eco Improvement
          • CMHC Eco Plus
        • CMHC — home renovation financing options
        • FAQs — mortgage loan insurance
      • Incentives for homebuyers
      • Newcomers
      • The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
    • Owning a home
      • Manage your mortgage
        • Mortgage fraud
        • Mortgage planning tips
        • Plan and manage your mortgage
        • Your credit report
        • Your home value
      • Aging in place
        • Housing options for Seniors
        • Housing and finance tips
        • Mortgage financing options for people 55+
        • Preventing fraud and financial abuse
    • Renting a home
      • I want to rent
        • Things to consider before renting
        • Types of housing for rent in Canada
        • Finding or advertising a rental property
        • Visiting the rental property
        • Lease and rental agreements
        • Signing the lease
        • Credit checks and bad credit
        • Rental payments and deposits
        • Roommates and pets
      • I am renting
        • Moving day
        • Landlord/Tenant responsibilities
        • Inspections
        • Maintenance and repairs
        • Complaints and evictions
        • Rent increases
        • When you can't pay rent
        • Renewing or terminating the lease
        • Moving out
      • One-Time Top-Up to the Canada Housing Benefit
      • COVID‑19: eviction bans and suspensions to support renters
  • About CMHC
    • CMHC’s goals, values and commitment to housing
    • Discover Life at CMHC
    • Management and governance
      • Speakers’ bureau
      • CMHC's Annual Public Meeting
      • CMHC’s board of directors and committees
      • Our management committee
      • Pension governance
        • Pension overview
        • Key roles and responsibilities
        • Annual reports
    • Corporate reporting
      • CMHC’s 2023 Annual Report
      • Program evaluation
      • Quarterly financial reports
      • Joint auditors special examination report to CMHC board 2018
      • CMHC’s Insured Mortgage Deferral
      • Corporate Plan Summary
      • Transparency
        • Access to information and privacy protection
        • Accessibility at CMHC
        • Accessibility feedback process
        • Briefing materials
        • Procurement
          • Vendor Diversity Program
        • Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures
    • Contact us
      • Contact mortgage loan insurance
      • Regional offices
      • Granville lsland
      • Indigenous and the North Housing Solutions
      • National office
      • Holiday service hours
  • Media Newsroom
  • National Housing Strategy
    • What is the strategy?
      • About the initiatives
      • How to apply
      • Help and resources
      • Priority areas for action
      • The National Housing Strategy Glossary of Common Terms
      • The Strategy in Action
    • Federal/Provincial/Territorial housing agreements
    • Other funding and financing opportunities
  • The Housing Observer
  • Canada’s Housing Podcast
  • Careers
  • Housing Knowledge Centre
 
  • Home
  • The Housing Observer
  • New rental housing data
  • Save
  • Share

Social and Affordable Housing Survey Results for Rental Structures

March 7, 2023

CMHC releases results from the survey’s third cycle

Results from the third cycle of
CMHC’s Social and Affordable Housing Survey — Rental Structures
are now available.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Our survey coverage in Quebec excludes administrative data for structures managed by the Government of Quebec via the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ).

Results at-a-glance

  • The national vacancy rate was 2.5% in 2022.
  • The average monthly rent nationally was $599 for 2-bedroom apartment units.
  • The 2 most common clientele groups were families with children (34%) and seniors (23%). Single men and women each accounted for 10%, while persons with physical disabilities or mental disabilities made up 3%.
  • 65% of clients were served by government organizations and 21% by non-profit organizations. Individuals exiting homelessness and those with disabilities had a higher likelihood of being served by non-profits than other groups like families, single people or veterans.
  • 43% of units across Canada are rated excellent/good condition, 19% are rated with average conditions; 38% are in fair/poor condition.
  • 73% of rental units have accessibility features.

Families with children and seniors are the most common clienteles being served

Our survey asked respondents whether they were mandated to serve a particular population group or clientele:

  • Nationally, the 2 most common clientele groups were families with children at 34% of the total clientele, and seniors at 22%. Single men and women were each an identified group in 10% of units surveyed, while persons with physical disabilities and persons with mental disabilities were each an identified group in 3% of units surveyed.
  • 65% of all clienteles were served by government organizations, while 21% were served by non-profit organizations.
  • Individuals exiting homelessness and persons with disabilities were somewhat more likely to be served by non-profit organizations while most other groups (ex. Families with children, single people, seniors, veterans, immigrants) were far more likely to be served by government by at least a margin of two-to-one.

Over half of the units were constructed before 1980

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100%, this is an expected result of rounding to the nearest whole number.

Text version (Figure 1)

  • 13% of the units in the survey were constructed after 1995
  • 33% of the units were constructed between 1980 and 1995
  • 53% of the units were constructed before 1980

New Brunswick had the highest share of units constructed prior to 1980. Amongst the provinces, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec had the lowest share constructed after 1980. Northwest Territories and Nunavut had the least number of units constructed prior to 1980 amongst all provinces and territories.

Almost half of units across Canada are in excellent condition

Housing providers were asked the overall current condition of their building with the proportion of social and affordable housing units this represented rated as follows:

  • Nationally, 43% of units across Canada are in excellent or good condition, 19% are rated to be in average condition, while 38% of units are either in fair or poor condition.
  • Building conditions varied widely ranging from only 7% of units rated as excellent or good condition in Manitoba’s social and affordable housing stock, to between 61% and 63% in British Columbia and Quebec, respectively, and up to around 85% of units in both P.E.I and Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • In Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba, units in fair or poor condition formed the plurality of units surveyed, ranging from 47% in Ontario, 60% in Alberta, and 91% for Manitoba.
  • When age of the stock is accounted for, 75% of units built in Canada after 2003 are rated in excellent or good condition, while only 38% of units built before 2003 are rated similarly.
  • Nationally, nearly 19% of buildings in Canada do not expect to make any repairs in the next five years. The most common building features that were expected to be repaired within the next five years were exterior building enclosures (32%) along with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (24%).

Nearly three-quarters of structures have accessibility features

  • Nationally, 73% of structures have accessibility features.
  • Paved walkways for wheelchairs, street level entrance without steps and accessible parking were the most common accessibility features offered.

The vacancy rate was 2.5% nationally

The vacancy rate is defined as units that were physically unoccupied and available to rent but no lease was signed yet. In 2022, the vacancy rate was 2.5% nationally. At the provincial and territorial level, the vacancy rate ranged from 0% in Nunavut to 19% in Saskatchewan.

A key reason for Saskatchewan’s elevated vacancy rate is due to a significant share of units being in rural centres. Declining populations in rural areas have reduced the demand for these units.

Average monthly rents varied widely across the country — rents were lowest on the east coast and highest on the west coast

The survey also gathered information on rents according to number of bedrooms. The average monthly rents nationally were as follows:

Figure 2

Text version (Figure 2)

  • Bachelor: $448
  • One-Bedroom Units: $528
  • Two-Bedroom Units: $599
  • 3+ Bedroom Units: $627

Average monthly rents varied widely across the country, with New Brunswick having the lowest average rents and British Columbia having the highest across all bedroom types.

How were rents determined?

  • At 88%, household income was the most common mechanism used to set rents.
  • In British Columbia and in Quebec, income was the main rent-setting mechanism for only 58% and 75% of units respectively; however, this percentage is at least 85% in almost all other provinces and territories.

Where we collected the social and affordable housing data:

The survey covered slightly more than 565,000 units located in:

Figure 3

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100%, this is an expected result of rounding to the nearest whole number.

Text version (Figure 3)

  • Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut: 1.6%
  • British Columbia: 12.3%
  • Alberta: 6%
  • Saskatchewan: 4%
  • Manitoba: 3.5%
  • Ontario: 54%
  • Quebec: 9.4%
  • New Brunswick: 4%
  • Nova Scotia: 3.4%
  • Prince Edward Island: 0.4%
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: 1.6%

A full 60% of the 565,000 units covered were in eight Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs):

Figure 4

Text version (Figure 4)

  • Toronto: 30%
  • Ottawa: 7.5%
  • Vancouver: 7%
  • Montreal: 6%
  • Winnipeg: 2%
  • Calgary, Edmonton and Windsor: 2.5% share each

What type of organizations accounted for the units in the survey?

Ownership of social and affordable housing was broken down amongst several types of organizations as follows:

  • 69% of units were owned by various levels of government
  • 20% were owned by non-profit organizations
  • 7% were owned by cooperatives
  • 5% were owned by private companies or partnerships between the aforementioned groups

How data was collected

The survey collects respondent and administrative data about an important component of Canada’s housing continuum: social and affordable rental-tenure housing. Information collected includes:

  • number of units
  • information on both ownership and administrative body
  • vacancy rates
  • average rents
  • rent determination mechanism
  • building age, condition and repair needs.

Data is collected across Canada with results available at both the provincial and centre level.

This year we have taken steps to expand our survey coverage. Since the first cycle of the survey was completed in 2019, we have expanded administrative data collection in Ontario. Moreover, we have made further refinements to our universe of surveyed structures in BC, resulting in fewer structures being eligible for inclusion in our survey frame. Finally, it is important to note that our survey coverage in Quebec excludes administrative data for structures managed by the Government of Quebec via the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ).

The results from this survey were released March 7, 2023.

Was this page relevant to your needs?

Thank you for your feedback!

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Report a Bug

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Please share your suggestion.

Google Captcha Loader

How Can We Help?

Report a Bug

Please describe the problem.

Google Captcha Loader

Thank you. Your feedback has been submitted.

Discover related content using the tags below:

  • Affordable Housing
  • Social Housing
  • Housing Market
  • Rental Housing
  • Research
Date Published: March 7, 2023
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Social and Affordable Housing Survey Results for Rental Structures

SAVE
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Social and Affordable Housing Survey Results for Rental Structures

Done Done!
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Did You Know?

You can include an email signature?

Register | Sign In

×
Google Captcha Loader
share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Done Done!
Close this window

By Topic

  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
    • Housing markets data and research
    • Industry innovation and leadership
    • Events and speakers
  • Consumers
    • Home buying
    • Owning a home
    • Renting a home

About Us

  • CMHC's Story
  • Management and Governance
  • Our Partners
  • Corporate Reporting
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

More

  • CMHC Newsletters
  • CMHC Library
  • Housing Observer
  • Media Newsroom
  • CMHC and Accessible Housing
  • CMHC on Twitter
  • CMHC on LinkedIn
  • CMHC on Facebook
  • CMHC on Instagram
  • CMHC on YouTube
Privacy Policy    |    Terms and Conditions    |    Transparency    |    Accessibility Plan    |    Accessibility Feedback     Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ©2025 
Canada
loader icon