CMHC Rental Market Survey – Ottawa Vacancy Rates by Bedroom Type (Oct 2025)
TL;DR
In the October 2025 CMHC rental survey, Ottawa's overall vacancy rate was about 2.9% with larger family-sized units (3+ beds) tight at 1.7%, while the Chinatown/Hintonburg neighbourhood's reported vacancy appears higher (~4.7%) but is tagged as statistically unreliable, meaning its specific estimate should be used with caution.
Key Points
- Ottawa CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) overall vacancy rate: ~2.9% — just below the ~3% healthy threshold.
- Studio: ~3.5% | 1BR: ~3.0% | 2BR: ~2.8% | 3BR+: ~1.7%.
- 3BR+ vacancy (1.7%) is the lowest of any category — sharpest constraint on family-sized rentals.
- Chinatown/Hintonburg neighbourhood vacancy reported at ~4.7%, but flagged as statistically unreliable by CMHC.
Full Analysis
Ottawa CMA (Census Metropolitan Area) — Vacancy by Bedroom Type
| Unit Type | Vacancy Rate |
|---|---|
| Studio | ~3.5% |
| 1 Bedroom | ~3.0% |
| 2 Bedroom | ~2.8% |
| 3 Bedroom+ | ~1.7% |
| Total | ~2.9% |
- Overall vacancy (~2.9%) is tight relative to the ~3% threshold generally considered healthy by planners and economists.
- Larger units (3+ bedrooms) show the lowest vacancy (~1.7%), indicating the strongest constraint on family-sized rentals.
Chinatown / Hintonburg Neighbourhood Data
| Unit Type | Vacancy Rate |
|---|---|
| Studio | ~3.6% |
| 1 Bedroom | ~3.9% |
| 2 Bedroom | — |
| 3 Bedroom+ | — |
| Total | ~4.7% |
⚠️ Caution: All Chinatown/Hintonburg estimates are flagged with a “d” (poor reliability) rating by CMHC. The sample size for this neighbourhood zone is too small to be statistically dependable. These figures should not be cited without the reliability caveat.