Many Ontario renters are making tough sacrifices to afford housing, and yet, they still only dream of buying a home.
Royal LePage’s 2025 Canadian Renters Report found that 39% of renters in Ontario are cutting back on food and groceries to make ends meet. Another 22% are turning to credit cards, and 21% have picked up a second job or side hustle.
The report also found that 38% of renters are spending between 31 and 50% of their net income on rent, and 15% are spending more than half – a level considered unsustainable by most financial standards.
Despite this, 55% of Ontario renters say they still plan to buy a home, most within the next two to five years.
For property managers, this is a sign there’s still life in the ownership pipeline, and possibly new landlord clients down the road. In the meantime, they may need to brace for more arrears.
And if your tenants are skipping meals to pay rent, consider pointing them to food or rental assistance programs, or working with your landlords to set up flexible payment plans.
More tenant behaviour headlines
What today’s renters really want when searching for a home – PayProp blog
Is housing really an investment? Canadians weigh in – Money.ca
Heat-related deaths and illnesses could rise without proper cooling for Ontario tenants – INsauga
