Dr. Anneke Smit Comments on the changing asking rents are getting lower in many of Canada’s major cities- Here’s how Windsor is doing

Windsor’s rents are flatlining rather than declining, economist says

Heather Kitching · CBC News · Posted: Jun 10, 2026 4:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 10

The average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Windsor is now more than $1,500 per month, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

It rose by around 1.3 per cent, from $1,490 to $1,510, during the first three months of 2026 when compared to the same period last year.

The average asking rent for a two-bedroom dropped by $20, from $1880 to $1860, during the same time period. For three-bedrooms it dropped $60 from $2,370 to $2,310.

Some cities in Canada have seen more significant declines in rental prices as new rental housing comes online and some new condos end up on the rental market, said Anthony Passarelli, the lead economist for southern Ontario with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

But Windsor’s rents, he said, are flatlining rather than declining.

“I think a lot of that has to do with, you haven’t seen that significant supply boost in the rental segment like you’ve seen in some of the major cities,” he said.

Vacancy rates creating ‘balanced markets’

“You have some of that permanent rental housing starting to get built. But again, [a] fairly — I would say — small amount, relative to the existing stock.” 

The CMHC released its own Mid-Year Rental Market Update on Tuesday, which found that vacancy rates in most of Canada’s major cities — including Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal — are now sitting in what it calls a balanced market range, meaning the vacancy rate results in rental price increases that are consistent with the rate of inflation. 

Windsor’s vacancy rate is probably close to being balanced, based on numbers gathered at the end of 2025, Passarelli said.

But he added, “I would say you’re not necessarily there yet in Windsor.”

Vacancies across the country are concentrated in newer, higher-priced apartments where landlords are offering incentives to attract renters, the report found. But Passarelli said there’s evidence that people who can afford those homes gradually vacate their less expensive rentals creating a ripple effect throughout the system. 

Windsor is a more affordable city to live in than many Canadian cities, Passarelli said, but he added, “I don’t think many people would characterize any of the rental markets as being very affordable.”

He expects asking rents in the city to continue to stay steady or decrease, he said, “We’re going to see some more supply hitting the market,” he said.

“In addition, the demand may not necessarily meet that over at least the next couple years.”

Reductions in the number of non-permanent residents in Canada and a high youth unemployment rate may help suppress the number of renters in the city at the same time as more housing becomes available, he said. 

‘Affordability isn’t really where it needs to be yet’

“That should actually ease some of these rent pressures a little bit more going forward,” he said. 

“Which is a welcome sign because … affordability isn’t really where it needs to be yet.”

The director of the Centre for Cities at the University of Windsor said the numbers released Tuesday invite more inquiry into how economic uncertainty is impacting the rental market, how rental prices are affecting homelessness and whether the right kind of housing is being built in Windsor.

“I think we also just want to take a look at what some of the underlying principles are that guide their concluding thoughts on this report,” Anneke Smit said of the CMHC document.

“There is some language in there around young people seeking rental … as opposed to housing ownership. And that’s .. sort of framed as a choice. … What I think we would certainly want to be looking deeper into the data to understand [is] … how much has homeownership become an elusive dream?”