New national data shows alarming increase in rental costs and housing affordability in Canada

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In terms of real people, this is as high as 262,300 renter households spending over 50 per cent in Ontario and 128,800 households spending over 50 per cent in Quebec.

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“The Index data released today show us the results of collective failure on rental housing investments over the last quarter century,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. “The hundreds of thousands of renters struggling to get by in today’s crushing rental markets expect all levels of government and industry stakeholders to work together to solve this crisis.”

Canadian Rental Housing Index

Also concerning, say officials, is the deteriorating quality of rental housing stock in Canada with an alarming number of units in need of major repairs, as well as the fact 500,000 renter households are resorting to living in overcrowded conditions to keep a roof over their heads.

Overcrowding exists across Canada in rural areas, northern communities, and urban environments, the Index points out.

“Behind each statistic in the index are thousands of renter families and households. This new data demonstrates they are not alone in their struggle to keep up with their housing costs, whether they live in the biggest centres in the country or the smallest communities,” said Marlene Coffey, CEO of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. “The data is a call to action that we need to do more to address rental costs, rental housing quality and in particular, ways to support marginalized renters in Canada’s housing market.

Unlike previous releases of the Index, officials say this year’s database also digs into who is most impacted by these affordability challenges. Examples of systemic oppression are evident across the Index data, claim officials, with higher levels of representation from marginalized communities in several areas including overcrowding, homes in need of major repairs and affordability.

As examples, women-led renter households faced higher rates of affordability challenges than households led by men; and 13 per cent of Indigenous-led renter households were living in homes in need of major repairs compared to 7 per cent of non-Indigenous households.

In Quebec, racialized renter households were more likely to be living in overcrowded housing in the province.

“These conditions perpetuate a cycle of inequality and hardship, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities,” said Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association. “In addition to the unique challenges Indigenous-led households face, these difficult renting conditions also impact women-led, racialized-led, and Immigrant-led households across Canada.”

“This stark reality demands our attention and concerted efforts. We cannot ignore the significant proportion of renter households burdened with unaffordable housing expenses, putting them at an increased risk of homelessness if they are forced to leave their home,” added Ray Sullivan, Executive Director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. “We must work together to create a future where all Canadians can access quality housing.”

To learn more about the Canadian Rental Housing Index, and to toggle rental housing in +800 municipalities, regions, and provinces, please visit www.rentalhousingindex.ca.

Download the media package, which includes a Backgrounder and Infographic for additional information here.