Edmonton and Calgary led the country in rental demand growth by volume, while Kingston saw the fastest growth rate by percentage, according to Rentals.ca’s 2025 Year in Review.
The report analyzes millions of tenant actions on the platform and shows where Canadians searched for rental properties the most, when they were most active and which features mattered most.
The top 10 cities by total rental leads submitted in 2025 were Edmonton, Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Hamilton, Saskatoon and London.
Summer wave and peaks on weekdays
Rental activity peaked in July, when lead volume was 27.2 percent above the annual average. The busiest day of the year was July 9, when rental income rose 64 percent above the daily average.
Monday was the most active day, with lead volumes 11.2 percent higher than the average weekday. Peak engagement occurred between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM ET and again from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET.
After Canada, the top countries driving search traffic were the United States, United Kingdom, India and France.
What tenants want
The most filtered features in 2025 were:
- Pet friendly
- Parking available
- Laundry room in the suite
- Utilities included
- Dishwasher
- Balcony
- Gym or fitness center
In-suite laundry facilities saw the fastest year-over-year growth at 41 percent, followed by gyms and fitness centers at 34 percent, reflecting a stronger focus on convenience and wellness, the report said.
Ads that performed the best
High-performing listings had several characteristics, including renovated older buildings with modern finishes, competitive pricing and strong accessibility in dense urban areas.
Practical amenities like pet-friendly policies and in-suite laundry were key drivers, along with strong visuals and full listings. Ads with eighteen or more photos consistently attracted more leads.
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