TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 12, 2013) - The rental apartment vacancy rate(1) in the Windsor Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) was 5.9 per cent in October, 2013, down from 7.3 per cent in October, 2012 according to the Fall Rental Market Survey released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

"More youth forming households and increased non-permanent residents contributed to the lower vacancy rate. Strong demand from immigrants, students and seniors also supported rental demand in the Windsor CMA. Lower supply put slight downward pressure on vacancy rates," said Erica McLerie, CMHC's Senior Market Analyst for the Windsor CMA.

On the basis of a sample of structures common to both the 2012 and 2013 surveys(2), the average two-bedroom rent increased by two per cent in the Windsor CMA. The fixed sample increase for one-bedroom units was 2.1 per cent and the overall increase for all units two per cent.

The apartment vacancy rate declined for all zones in the City of Windsor. However, the vacancy rate in Zone 5 (Amherstburg Township) increased. The vacancy rate in the City of Windsor declined to six per cent from 7.5 per cent in October 2012. Newcomers to Canada, young adult households and students tend to locate close to public transit and the services they require.

Rental Market data is also available in English and French at the following link:CMA Rental Market Report

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.

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(1) The survey is based on privately-initiated rental apartment structures of three or more units.

(2) Year-over-year comparisons of average rents can be slightly misleading because rents in newly built structures tend to be higher than in existing buildings. Excluding new structures and focusing on structures existing in both the October 2012 and October 2013 surveys provides a better indication of actual rent increases paid by tenants.

Additional data is available upon request.

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A table is available at the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/917343e.pdf.