Vacancy Rate
Learn about vacancy rates in Canadian real estate — what they are, how they’re calculated, and why they matter for landlords and investors.
August 01, 2025
What is Vacancy Rate?
The vacancy rate is the percentage of all available rental units in a property or market that are unoccupied at a given time.
Why Vacancy Rate Matters in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, vacancy rates are a key indicator of rental market health, property performance, and future rental pricing trends.
How it’s calculated:
- (Vacant units ÷ total units) × 100
- Can be measured for specific properties, submarkets, or regions
Understanding vacancy rates helps landlords adjust leasing strategies and investors evaluate income potential.
Example of Vacancy Rate in Action
The city’s apartment vacancy rate dropped to 2%, signalling strong rental demand and limited supply.
Key Takeaways
- Measures percentage of unoccupied rental units
- Indicates market supply and demand balance
- Affects rental pricing and property values
- Used by landlords, investors, and lenders
- Balances with occupancy rate for full market view
Related Terms
- Occupancy Rate
- Allowance for Vacancy
- Market Value
- Property Management
- Tenant Rights


Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 






15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
