1 Bedroom Apartments Ottawa

Posts Tagged ‘Rentals’

Being a landlord requires management skills, sales skills, and negotiation skills as you are constantly working with people (your tenants). One sensitive subject for both the landlord and tenant can be “How much is the rent going to be?” Once the tenant is living there, raising the rent is important but can be a delicate decision.
Keep in mind that you must keep your investment real estate business growing. To that end, you must keep your rents increasing at pace with the market and your rising costs. Raising the rent is simply part of managing your business smartly. Done correctly, it can be an easy and stress-free process.
Although every rental situation and each tenant/landlord relationship is different, I think raising the rent depends upon a couple items:
1. Is the tenant paying a fair market rent? If the rent is currently lower than market, it may be easy to raise it slightly as most tenants will realize they are getting a good deal where they are currently living. Plus they will not want to take on the added expense and time of moving.
2. When making your decision, ask yourself: “If the tenant decides to move because you are increasing the rent, can you re-rent the apartment for minimal cost and minimal or no vacant months?” If you increase the rent by $50 and the tenant decides to leave and you are left with a vacant $1200 per month apartment, was the increase worth it?
3. Consider that if you are increasing the rent in the spring, generally you can be more aggressive because it will be easier to re-rent that apartment in May than in December (at lease in colder climates).
4. If you are actively managing your lease renewals, you must be talking with the tenant 60-90 days prior to the lease renewal about their plans and any rent increases. This will give you time to re-rent the unit if the tenant chooses not not to renew.
5. Have the rent increase conversation with them verbally or in person. This will give you the opportunity to read their reaction to the increase. It is also more difficult for them to say no to your face.
6. If the tenant is hesitant about the increase, immediately see if they will accept the increase if you set the lease renewal to 18 months (locking their rent for that time) in exchange for the rent increase. This is actually an even better win for you as the landlord, as you have just locked them in as tenant for 6 extra months (and you got your rent increase).
7. When talking with your tenant, Use your best sales techniques to show them why they should both stay and accept the rent increase. At the end of the day, be honest. If the increase is related to increases in your costs, explain how your costs have changed. Most tenants can understand that taxes, insurance, or utilities do go up.
8. Lastly, if they are a great tenant consider simply leaving the rent at the same amount for another year. I would, however, let them know that you thought about a rent increase but “because they are such great tenants, you have decided to not change the rent for another year”. This will set up the idea in their minds that you did them a favor and will get them to expect a rent increase next year.
Having your rents keep pace with your expenses and market rents is an critical part of running investment real estate business. Although it can seem intimidating at first, if you just take your time and think through the process with each tenant, it can be a simple process when lease renewal time comes around.

When your days are packed with meetings, appointments, after-work exercise and catching up with friends, the last thing you want to fuss about at the end of a long day is your living quarters. 

With time being such a valuable commodity, apartment living frees up your time to spend it how you really want.

Here are some reasons behind why more and more professionals are opting for the low maintenance lifestyle of apartment living.

1. Safety In Numbers

When you lead a busy schedule, the last thing you want to worry about is security back home.  Choosing to live in an apartment, rather than a stand-alone house, offers the age-old adage of safety in numbers.  Most apartments have security guards, which discourages opportunities for crime.  With 24-hour emergency service and an on-site building manager, you can feel secure in knowing you are protected at all times.

Apartments are built with residents’ safety in mind.  Fire safety plans, emergency stairwells and exits, smoke alarms in every apartment and fireproof concrete floors and walls minimize of a widespread apartment fire. As well, the building’s fire panels are monitored 24/7, and should the alarm be activated, the fire department will be there within minutes – giving you total peace of mind when it comes to your safety and security.

2. Convenience at Your Fingertips

Apartments offer you the convenience of having many amenities right on site.  In addition to laundry facilities and plentiful storage space, some apartments also have pools, saunas and convenience stores – great for people who prefer to buy food as needed, rather than shopping in bulk to stock up on weekly items.

All of these on-site conveniences enable you to better manage your time because you aren’t required to go out of your way to get what you need.

Apartments are usually situated near bus routes, allowing you easy mobility and quick access around town.   Because location is a huge factor when considering which apartment to rent, most apartments are established near grocery stores, cafes and pubs to make life more pleasant for the tenants.

3. Enhanced Social Opportunities

Apartments are excellent for people who value self-reliance, but don’t want to live entirely in isolation.  Many apartments contain communal areas such as exercise rooms, recreation rooms, or even party rooms that can be rented out – all of which offer excellent opportunities to meet and mingle with other tenants.

Apartments are very accommodating of guests – most apartments have a visitors’ parking area and some even offer guest rooms.

4. Kinder on the Wallet

Smaller in size than a house,  apartment electricity and hydro bills are usually much cheaper, particularly if you share your apartment and can divide the bills among others.

Apartments are usually rented on a term contract, with a minimum rent period.  This living arrangement suits professionals who change jobs often, or work in different areas of town, and want the freedom to change apartments to move closer to work accordingly.

All maintenance work is paid out of the property manager’s pocket, not your own.  With no long-term overheads, this leaves you financially free to save your money for travel, hobbies or even higher education if you intend to return to studying.

5.  The Good Life

When you live in an apartment, you are not required to look after lawns and gardens.  Nor do you have to fix any problems with leaky faucets, flooded toilets, dents in walls or peeling paint.  Plus, most apartments have 24-hour emergency maintenance service, so if something goes wrong, there’s no need to spend valuable time sifting through the Yellow Pages searching for the right type of repair company. This frees up you up to focus on your professional or social life.

Renting an apartment has become a great alternative to a hotel room for many foreign visitors and business people due to its convenience, space and privacy. In the article we would like to give some advice for travelers who are going to rent apartment in Odessa Ukraine. There are some facilities to which travelers do not pay attention when they choose and book apartment while these facilities may be very useful and make your staying in the apartment more comfortable. We’ll not discuss such facilities like freezer, electric cattle, oven or cleaning kit because it’s not easy to look for apartment without these facilities. We’ll discuss facilities which may be absent and offer solutions which can compensate the absence of these facilities. Location. No doubt apartment should be central located. It should be in the safe part of Odessa city center. In this case Deribasovskaya Street is the best solution. The problem is there’s limited quantity of apartments on Deribasovskaya Street and your attempts to rent the apartment on Deribasvoskaya may fail. Here’s the list of other Odessa central located safe streets where you can also try to look for apartment: Dvoryanskaya Street, Koblevskaya Street, Lva Tolstogo Street, Nezinskaya Street, Preobrazenskaya Street, Sobornaya Square, Pastera Street, Nekrasova Street, Mayakovskogo Street, Gogolya Street, Mendeleyeva Street, Vorontsovskiy Lane, Primorskiy Boulevard, Ekateriniskaya Square, Chaikovskogo Lane, Gavannaya Street , Lanzeronovskaya street, Krasny Lane, Zhukova Street , Grecheskaya street, Pushkinskaya Street, Ekaterininskaya Street, Reshilyevskaya Street, Bunina Street, Aleksandrovskiy Avenue, Zhukovskogo Street, Sadovaya Street. Internet. Definitely, internet is the most powerful source of information which maybe extremely helpful during your travel. Wireless internet is what you really need. There’s no sense to overpay for apartment which has cable internet connection because wireless internet is available in any place of Odessa city centre. Just buy Internet card in any Odessa shop, switch on your notebook, use information from the purchased Internet card to log in and you are welcome to use internet and skype everywhere.

On the safe side here’s the list of Odessa central located Internet clubs: Mouse Club. Address: Chaikovskovo 16 (Located behind the opera theater, slightly to the west). Internet Planet. Address: Rishelevskaya 58. eXe. Address: Malaya Arnautskaya 119

Submarina. Address: Preobrazhenskaya 49/51 (located North of Saint Uspensky Cathederal). Hacker. Address: Evreyskaya 57 (corner of Preobrazhenskaya and Evreiskaya, basement). “64″. Address:Pushkinskaya 64. Internet Club. Address: Rishelevskaya 67. Net-Center. Address: Ekaterininskaya 75. X-25 Club. Address: Gavannaya 7. Inferno. Address: Kanatnaya 79. Internet Club “Discovery”. Address: 69 Bazarnaya str. Internet Club “Angar 18″. Address: 52 Bolshaya Arnautskaya str. Autonomous hot water supply. Autonomous hot water supply. Odessa central heating system has problems with regular hot water supply. Therefore please, check if autonomous hot water supply is available when you are booking apartment to avoid the situation with the absence of hot water. Autonomous heating.”Is autonomous heating available?” Normally this question should be asked if you are going to travel in winter. Central heating may be not good in some houses of Odessa. This way autonomous heating may serve you quite well. Cable TV . All Odessa cable TV providers offer minimum 2 English speaking channels. Anyway, you’ll not miss CNN or BBC news. Cell phone Roaming is a good feature but it’s not so cheap as we would like. We recommend buying chip of Ukrainian National cell phone operator. This way you’ll pay 0.006 USD / each second. Air conditioner . Odessa has moderately continental and comparatively dry climate with a short mild winter and long hot summer (more than 290 sunny days in the year). Summer is long and hot with an average temperature of 25 Celsius. Temperatures above 35 Celsius are quite often. Please, judge yourself if you need air conditioner or not.

Such things as hair dryer and iron may also serve you good service. Small features but useful.

Here are central located restaurants which have comparatively cheap rates but good service and delicious meal:

Restaurant Kumanets. 7, Gavannaya St. Ukrainian themed dining taken to the extreme. Swashbuckling, country-style restaurant with hearty servings of sausage, dumplings, and lots of fresh vegetables. Open 11.OO-midnight. Good lunch will cost no more than 30.00 USD.

Restaurant Aliye Parusa. Corner of Deribasovskaya and Yekaterininskaya. Harking back to Odessa’s early days of tall ships and trade, with epicurean food and lots of drink. Open 11.OO-midnight. Good lunch will cost no more than 30.00 USD.

Founded in 2001, Verde Apartment Communities has emerged as one of the leading developers, builders and operators of high-end luxury apartment homes in the Southwest. Currently Verde manage properties in all four of the top Texas Metropolitan areas: Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio where they strive to deliver exceptional customer service, innovation and communities.

Verde Apartments | San Antonio, Texas

Verde Braun Station is a luxury apartment community located in San Antonio, Texas. The community consists of one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom apartment homes.Verde Westover Hills in San Antonio, Texas is a brand new apartment community offering it’s residents the latest in modern amenities and design. Features include granite countertops, ceramic tile flooring, island kitchens, brushe nickel fixtures, private terraces and balconies, private detached garages, oversized walk-in closets and more.

Verde Apartments | Austin, Texas Verde Brushy Creek – Verde Brushy Creek are luxurious apartments located in Cedar Park,TX. Each apartment home features unique details and offers beautifully finished one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom floor plans.

Verde Oak Park – Verde Oak Park are luxurious apartments located in Austin, TX. Each apartment home features unique details and offers beautifully finished one bedroom and two bedroom floor plans.

Verde Shadow Brook – Austin’s south side, there’s one apartment community that’s offering life just the way you like it: Verde Shadow Brook apartments. This brand new residence just off Slaughter Lane is so much more than a place to lie your head. With the carefree charm of Hill Country living and a vibrant community right outside your door, Verde is where to live when you want to live well.

Verde Northpointe – Verde Northpointe Apartments offers well-appointed floor plans where you can escape from the ordinary. Retreat where tranquility abounds and where living well is priority one!

Verde Woodland Hills – Enjoy recreational amenities including a sparkling swimming pool with sun deck, clubhouse with billiards and a 21st century Wii gaming center. Indulge in your state-of-the-art fitness center and business center with WiFi access.

Verde Woodson Park – Verde Woodson Park are luxurious apartments located in Houston, TX.  Each apartment home features unique details and offers beautifully finished one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom floor plans.

Verde Grand Harbor – Verde Grand Harbor Apartments offers well-appointed floor plans where you can escape from the ordinary.  Retreat where tranquility abounds and where living well is priority one!

Verde Lakemont – Verde Lakemont is a luxury apartment community located at 7115 Mason Rd., Richmond, TX 77469. Verde Lakemont consists of one, two and three bedroom floor plans to meet every lifestyle and a full amenity package.

Verde Panther Creek – Located in north Frisco, just miles from Pizza Hut Park, numerous restaurants and shopping all with easy access to 380, North Dallas Tollway and major thoroughfares, you’ll love this easy living lifestyle tucked away from traffic noise and life’s stresses.

Verde Riverwalk – Verde Riverwalk Apartments is an apartment development located  in the highly desirable Grapevine Texas area.  Verde Riverwalk consists of one, two, and three bedroom floor plans to meet every lifestyle and a full amenity package.

Dubai is set to deliver over residential apartment 60 towers in the next 12 months. Many wonder how a city of can absorb this type of space.

Although it seems like a large amount of space to absorb one must look closer at the existing demand requirements and undersupply.

Renting Dubai Apartments freehold locations have been primarily delivered in Dubai Marina and the Greens. The Jumeirah Beach Residence(JBR) is the major deliveries expected at the end of 2006 as it represents 36 towers.

Handovers of Jumeirah lake Towers with almost 40 residential towers will start in mid 2007 and complete by mid 2008. Much of the Burj Downtown and Business Bay deliveries will start in late 2007.

Dubai Apartments range from studios to Penthouses. Dubai Apartments include some of the best sea view facing apartments with views of Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah. Many of Dubai Apartments are fully serviced hotel apartments with all the hotel amenities. Dubai Marina apartments are primarily situated next to the business hubs of Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City.

As we are set to witness one of the biggest city transitions over the next few years as the skyline of Dubai changes rapidly we will all look forward with great anticipation.

Being in Paris, France is an experience that should be savored and cherished. Filled with a rich history, a unique culture and wonderful places to be, shop at, and stay, Paris is a major tourist spot where everyone wants to experience being a Parisian for a certain amount of time. Many tourists have gone to Paris, stayed in a hotel, and found the Paris experience to be satisfying but lacking in some aspects. Staying in a hotel entails higher costs and less freedom of movement for many tourists, which is why the next time they travel there they stay in a Paris apartment for rent instead.

The advantages of Paris apartments for rent

The pros of getting a Paris apartment for rent the next time you are in France is, first, a much cheaper option than staying at a hotel. By availing of a Paris apartment for rent, you may cut down to at least one-third of the cost than if you stay in a Paris hotel. A Paris hotel will charge you higher per night than a Paris apartment can charge you for a week. Secondly, you will get the amenities that you need to live a regular Parisian experience in France. You will be able to cook your own food and save on restaurants, and you will be able to store food in your furnished apartment. Third, you will be able to move with more freedom in Paris rather than being limited to your hotel room. You may also entertain guests at your apartment, something that would be almost impossible to do in a small rented hotel room.

Doing research on Paris apartments for rent

Before deciding on a Paris apartment, you can do your own research online and inquire about Paris apartments for rent. You will be surprised how many websites are dedicated to helping tourists in finding the perfect Paris apartment for their vacation and business trips. These websites will usually provide pictures and basic information about the Paris apartments for rent. You can also email the provided addresses to find out more information about the Paris apartments that interest you.

Find a good Paris apartment location

Be aware of location and its accessibility to the places (or workplace) where you will be going often so that you can also save on transportation costs. If you have already been to Paris, you will have a general idea about the different neighborhoods in Paris which are desirable place to live. You can also talk to friends who have lived in Paris and find out where the best places to rent a Paris apartment are.

A Paris apartment for rent within your budget

This may be one of the major considerations in finding a Paris apartment for rent, so stay within your budget. A Paris apartment can usually be rented for a month to 12 months depending on your objectives. Make sure that when you leave for France, that you already have the full amount for your rental period ready and intact in your bank before making it out to Paris. You don’t want to be stuck in a foreign place without a place to stay if you don’t plan your budget correctly.

Now that you know the advantages of getting a Paris apartment for rent, the next time you plan to go to Paris for vacation or business, a Paris apartment is a good thing to consider. By getting a Paris apartment for rent you will be sure to have a richer experience, a cost-efficient way, and more practical approach to staying in Paris as compared to staying at just any hotel.

Like last year or the year before that or even the year before that, you may be looking to move into a new apartment.  The process of apartment hunting can be a challenging one…especially in a time of economic crisis, so having a few tips on the search can make it easier. First of all, your timing is Crucial.  This is a very competitive market, so finding the perfect affordable apartment may seem like finding a needle in a haystack at times.  It’s important to keep your eyes and mind open and search around at a number of places. You should be ready to make quick decisions if you find a great “look-n-lease” special.  Specials change constantly and so does pricing, so searching at the right time may prove difficult. You won’t want to start your search too early, but when you do start it should be within several weeks of your anticipated move-in date if you wish to get the most accurate experience when hunting for prices. Hit the market vigorously for two to three weeks as you search through all the places you’d like to live.  Most importantly, before you hit the pavement you should visit a site like ApartmentHomeLiving.com to sift through all of the communities in the area. You’ll be able to see floorplans, specials, tours, amenities and more to base your decision on. Then, once you have narrowed your search down, you should call and set up visits to the communities that interest you the most.  After a few visits, it should all be clear. Do your research online because once you get to the community they may offer you a special that you will lose out on if you walk out that door. No one wants that to happen.No matter where you end up finding the perfect apartment, it’s important for you to be happy…so don’t settle…keep searching….you’ll find your golden palace!

If you are travelling to London on business and need inexpensiveaccommodation which offers flexibility, then renting a serviced apartment is an excellent option for you to consider. Business travellers are often surprised to learn that a serviced apartment can be rented for periods of only one night upwards.Most serviced apartments are located close to London underground stations so you will have easy access to London’s excellent transport network. The tube offers you the quickest way to get around under the capital whilst avoiding the traffic.When you rent an apartment, you will benefit from all the services you would expect to have available in a good hotel such as 24 hour reception, laundry, cleaning, safe etc. Some even have their own restaurants on site.As well as these facilities, staying in an apartment will offer you the freedom to come and go as you please, invite guests or business colleagues to your apartment, as well as being able to prepare your own meals whenever you feel like it.All serviced apartments come fully furnished with TV’s and fully fitted kitchens and linen and towels, whilst many have hifi’s, safes, internet access, gymnasium.If you are sending teams of staff to London on an assignment or sending a group of employees to an exhibition, then the cost saving can be considerable. For example, one bedroom apartments often sleep 4 people so  for less than £100 a night you can accommodate staff much more inexpensively than you would in a hotel. By arranging self-catering accommodation, you will avoid the need for staff to run up considerable restaurant bills by dining out every evening.

The range of apartments available in London is vast; from the smaller economy studio apartment at the lower end of the market to the luxury 3 bedroom penthouse at the other. Whatever your requirements, if you contact the right agent, you will not be disappointed.Go City Apartments offer an efficient, friendly service and always do their utmost to find you an apartment which is perfect for your requirements, whether you are looking for a small pied-a-terre for one night or a luxury penthouse suite for a couple of months.

On January 31, 2007, the Government of Ontario brought into effect the new Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), replacing the old Tenant Protection Act that had been in effect since 1998. As a renter, perhaps the most important thing you can do is to simply know your rights by understanding what the RTA is all about and how it affects you as a tenant.

The new legislation applies to most types of residential rental properties in the province and outlines exactly how landlord-tenant relations will be governed. This includes protecting residential tenants from unlawful rent increases and evictions, establishing a framework for the regulation of residential rents and balancing the rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants in order to better resolve disputes.

RTA Trumps All

First, it is important to know that anything in your tenancy agreement that conflicts with the RTA is not valid. All limits and stipulations outlined in the RTA for areas such as rent increases and eviction procedures must be followed, even if your tenancy agreement says otherwise. For example, it is illegal for a landlord to require post-dated cheques from a tenant, even if the rental agreement says they are required.

Landlord and Tenant Board

The Landlord and Tenant Board is the new name for the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal, the governing body that settles disputes between landlords and tenants and enforces their rights. Both tenants and landlords can make applications to the Board, and if you and your landlord cannot agree on how to work out a problem, the Board will hold a hearing to resolve the situation.

Rent Increases

Although rent increases are carefully controlled by the RTA, before a tenant moves in, landlords can charge whatever they want for a vacant unit. However, after you move in, your landlord must wait at least 12 months before raising your rent, and any increases after that must be at least 12 months apart. Your landlord must also give you at least 90 days written notice before your rent increases.

These rent increases must follow the annual rent guidelines established by the provincial government. For 2007, the government determined that landlords can increase the rent by a maximum of 2.6 percent. To raise your rent by more than this guideline, your landlord must apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for permission. The Board can allow an above-guideline increase only for:

Privacy

According to the RTA, your landlord can enter your home without telling you ahead of time only if there is an emergency or if your landlord gives you cleaning services. Otherwise, your landlord must give you notice in writing 24 hours ahead of time and can only enter your place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., even if it is to do repairs or inspections. 

Once you have given notice to move out or agreed to terminate your rental agreement, your landlord can enter your place to show it to a new tenant as long as your landlord makes a reasonable effort to let you know when the showing will take place.

Moving Out and Giving Notice

Believe it or not, you do not have to move out just because your lease expires – your tenancy automatically continues on a month-to-month basis until you or your landlord does something to end it. Not renewing your lease at the end of the agreement can actually be ideal if you know you want to stay in the place you are renting but you’re not sure if you want to stay there for another full year.

If you want to move out, you can provide your landlord written notice giving the exact date you want your tenancy to end. If you pay your rent by the month, you must give your landlord at least 60 days written notice.

Evictions

The first step in the eviction process is that your landlord must give you written notice explaining the reasons why your landlord wants you to leave. Among the reasons your landlord might cite include:

For More Information …

This article only scratches the surface of the lengthy Residential Tenancies Act, which also contains detailed rules about subletting, maintenance and eviction hearings, as well as outlining exactly how the legislation applies to non-traditional rental units such as mobile home parks, subsidized housing and care homes.

This article is not intended to give tenants or landlords concrete legal advice. If you have any questions or concerns about the Residential Tenancies Act, or if you would like a copy of the Act, please contact the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The rental market in Canada is getting tighter – especially in Ottawa. But if you know where to go and what to look for, you can still get an excellent apartment in the nation’s capital. Here’s the rundown on the latest rental market conditions, based on a study conducted by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Overall, rental demand increased in Ottawa as a result of higher homeownership costs, weak rental construction markets and increased immigration and youth employment. These changes caused the vacancy rate (the percentage of apartments that are unoccupied and immediately available to rent) to drop to 2.3 percent from 3.3 percent in 2005. Meanwhile, across the river in Gatineau, the vacancy rate climbed to 4.2 percent, up from 3.1 percent one year earlier. This increase can be credited to the fact that homeownership is still more affordable in Quebec.

Vacancies by Neighbourhood

If you’re looking to rent an apartment in some of the “trendier” areas of the city, you might want to consider acting early and putting yourself on a waiting list. An empty apartment is rather rare in the Westboro / Britannia area, where the vacancy rate is a mere 1.3 percent. The Glebe and Old Ottawa South also had very low vacancy rates, sitting at 1.4 percent for 2006. In comparison, the Gloucester / Cumberland area had the highest vacancy rate in Ottawa at 4.6 percent – just one of two areas in the city to see an increase in vacancies compared to the previous year.

One-bedroom suites are the toughest type of apartment to find, with availability rates (the percentage of units that are vacant plus the ones that will be considered available as the existing tenant has not signed a new lease) the lowest in the city at 4.1 percent. Larger families will have an easier time finding a place to live, as the availability rate for a three-bedroom unit was 6.2 percent.

Availability Goes Down, Rent Goes Up

As a result of the tighter rental market, rent in Ottawa has increased. The average two-bedroom apartment rent went up by 3 percent in 2006. The highest rental rates can be found in newer buildings (because of their superior condition and amenity mix) and in larger buildings with 200 units or more.

Broken down by location, the highest rent in Ottawa, on average, is in the Sandy Hill / Lowertown area ($930). In comparison, the lowest rent could be found in Vanier, where tenants paid an average of $713 each month. Overall, the average rent in Ottawa was $844.

Rental Market Outlook for Ottawa in 2007

Vacancy rates are expected to move even lower in 2007 to an estimated 2.1 percent, making it even more difficult to find an apartment in the city. Rent will also rise by a similar amount to 2006 – experts predict that the average rent for a two-bedroom unit in Ottawa to be approximately $960 in 2007.

Canada-Wide Statistics

The average apartment vacancy rate in Canada decreased slightly in 2006 to 2.6 percent, down 0.1 percent from the year before. The highest vacancy rates were found in Windsor (10.4 percent), Saint John (6.8 percent) and St. John’s (5.1 percent). Meanwhile, the lowest vacancy rates were primarily found out west, with Calgary (0.5 percent), Victoria (0.5 percent) and Vancouver (0.7 percent) being the cities with the least amount of available apartments.

Compared to the other major cities in the country, Ottawa, at 2.3 percent vacancy, ranks slightly behind Toronto (3.2 percent) and Montreal (2.7 percent). Ottawa does fare better than Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton, which scored a 1.2 percent vacancy rate.

Canada’s highest average monthly rents for a two-bedroom apartment were Toronto ($1,067) and Vancouver ($1,045), followed by Calgary ($960) and Ottawa ($940). The lowest rents in the country were found in Quebec in Trois-Rivieres ($488) and Saguenay ($485).

The Ottawa Advantage

So, what do all these numbers mean for people searching for an apartment for rent in Ottawa? Well, they say that Ottawa is about middle of the road in terms if vacancies, availabilities and rent prices – that is, it isn’t as hard to find an apartment in Ottawa as it is in the western provinces, but there are less available units in the city than there are elsewhere in Ontario. However, even though there are fewer vacancies, the rent is actually cheaper than it is in Toronto. Combined with all of the great amenities and attractions already found in the National Capital Region, Ottawa is still a very attractive destination for renters in Ontario.