Social and Affordable Housing Survey Results for Rental Structures

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

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:

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:

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

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.