GTA REALTORS® Release Rental Market Statistics


TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan. 26, 2017) - Toronto Real Estate Board President Larry Cerqua announced continued tightening in the GTA condominium apartment rental market in the fourth quarter of 2016. Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 5,717 condominium apartment rental transactions through TREB's MLS® System during the last three months of 2016 - down 5.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2015.

Rental transactions were down because of a lack of units available for rent, not because of declining demand. The number of condo apartments listed for rent during the fourth quarter of 2016 shrank by more than 14 per cent to 9,545.

"We have talked a lot over the past year about a lack of inventory for ownership housing. What is less well known is the fact that rental market conditions also tightened over the past year. Competition between renters has increased, leading to very strong year-over-year growth in average rents," said Mr. Cerqua.

The average one-bedroom condo apartment rent was $1,776, representing an annual increase of 7.4 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Over the same period, two-bedroom rents increased by eight per cent to $2,415.

"The demand for rental accommodation has increased in the GTA. The condominium apartment vacancy rate dropped markedly between 2015 and 2016. In many parts of the GTA, investor-owned condo apartments are the only option for renters looking for new, modern units in sought-after neighbourhoods. In the absence of more units coming available, expect above-inflation rent growth to continue," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Director of Market Analysis.

Rental Market Summary: Fourth Quarter 2016

Apartments
All Bedroom Types Bachelor One-Bedroom Two-Bedroom Three-Bedroom
Listed Leased Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent
Q4 2016 9,545 5,717 227 $ 1,512 3,379 $ 1,776 1,988 $ 2,415 123 $ 3,283
Q4 2015 11,119 6,069 166 $ 1,350 3,594 $ 1,653 2,187 $ 2,236 122 $ 2,833
Yr./Yr.% Chg. -14.2 % -5.8 % 36.7 % 12.0 % -6.0 % 7.4 % -9.1 % 8.0 % 0.8 % 15.9 %
Townhouses
All Bedroom Types Bachelor One-Bedroom Two-Bedroom Three-Bedroom
Listed Leased Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent Leased Avg. Rent
Q4 2016 854 438 2 $ 1,475 44 $ 1,669 177 $ 1,981 215 $ 2,287
Q4 2015 915 413 1 $ 1,200 34 $ 1,459 140 $ 1,919 238 $ 2,062
Yr./Yr.% Chg. -6.7 % 6.1 % 100.0 % 22.9 % 29.4 % 14.4 % 26.4 % 3.2 % -9.7 % 10.9 %

Source: Toronto Real Estate Board

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