What is the rental vacancy rate in Ottawa right now?
The vacancy rate is the share of rental units sitting empty in Ottawa. A low number means rentals are scarce — which pushes rents up and can push renters toward buying.
Rental Vacancy · Ottawa CMA (CMHC, annual)·Updated Jan 2025
3.1%
Updated annually · ▲ 0.6 pp vs last year
The percentage of rental units in Ottawa that are currently empty. A low vacancy rate means rentals are scarce, which puts upward pressure on rents and can push renters toward buying.
Recent trend
Last 24 months
What this means for Ottawa right now
As of June 2026, Ottawa's strongest market signal is Hold at 77% — Buy 51%, Hold 77%, Sell 45%.
Market conditions strongly favour holding — prices are stable and inventory is balanced.
What this means for you
If you're buying
A tight rental market (low vacancy) often nudges renters into buying, adding demand. A looser market eases that pressure.
If you're selling
Low vacancy supports rental demand and can make income properties more attractive to buyers.
Ottawa market context
Canada's capital — a stable, government-anchored market less prone to boom-bust swings.
Unemployment Rate · Ontario (Statistics Canada)
6.7%
Common questions
Is now a good time to buy in Ottawa?
As of June 2026, Ottawa's strongest market signal is Hold (77%). Market conditions strongly favour holding — prices are stable and inventory is balanced. Not financial advice.
What is a healthy vacancy rate?
Around 3% is generally considered balanced; below that, rentals are tight and rents tend to rise.
How often is the Ottawa vacancy rate updated?
CMHC publishes it once a year, so it changes annually rather than monthly.