TORONTO, ON — January 27, 2026 — Rentals.ca has released its 2025 Year in Review, capturing millions of renter decisions made across the platform and offering a data-driven look at where rental demand surged most in Canada, when renters were most active, and what features they prioritized most while searching.
Edmonton and Calgary led the country in rental lead growth by volume of leads submitted, while Kingston recorded the fastest growth by percentage of leads submitted per person.
Rental activity peaked in July, with lead volume 27.2% above the annual average. The busiest single day of the year was July 9, when rental lead volume reached 64% above the annual daily average.
Renters were most active on Mondays (+11.2% compared to average weekdays), with peak rental lead activity occurring in the early afternoon (1:00 PM–3:00 PM ET) and early evening (7:00 PM–8:00 PM ET).
Rentals.ca search patterns also reveal the features renters were most focused on in 2025. The top amenities renters filtered for were:
- Pet Friendly
- Parking Available
- In-suite Laundry
- Utilities Included
- Dishwasher
- Balcony
- Gym / Fitness Centre
Notably, in-suite laundry saw the fastest year-over-year growth (+41%), followed by gym/fitness centre (+34%), signalling a growing emphasis on in-unit convenience and wellness features.
Rentals.ca’s Year in Review also identified listing patterns linked to stronger renter engagement. High-performing listings typically shared these traits:
- Renovated older buildings with modern finishes
- Competitive pricing relative to nearby options
- Strong accessibility (transit and road access) in dense urban areas
- Practical amenities (especially pet-friendliness and in-suite laundry)
- High-quality photography (often 18+ photos and frequently 30+)
- Detailed descriptions and fully completed listing fields
In Canada's major markets, Edmonton ranked #1 in total rental demand, followed by Toronto and Calgary, with additional strong activity across the Prairies and mid-sized markets.
Top 10 cities by total rental leads submitted in 2025:
- Edmonton
- Toronto
- Calgary
- Winnipeg
- Ottawa
- Vancouver
- Montreal
- Hamilton
- Saskatoon
- London
For a complete breakdown of the Rentals.ca 2025 Year in Review, visit here, or reach out to media@rentals.ca.