The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Realtors recently reported 3,648 rental apartment transactions through the Toronto MLS system in the fourth quarter of 2012, which is up 13 per cent from the 3,234 transactions recorded during the same period in 2011. The number of units listed for rent during the fourth quarter was up by 18 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

“The number of rental transactions through the Toronto MLS system has been growing quite strongly over the past year as many renter households are attracted to investor-held condominium apartments and townhomes that offer modern finishes and amenities in popular areas throughout the Greater Toronto Area,” says Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) president, Ann Hannah.

One and two-bedroom apartments are responsible for the vast majority of transactions. The average one-bedroom rent increased by more than four per cent annually in the fourth quarter to $1,626. The average two-bedroom rent was up by almost two per cent to $2,088.

“The rental market became better supplied in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2011, as growth in listed units outpaced growth in sales,” says Jason Mercer, TREB’s senior manager of market analysis. “With strong new condominium apartment completions over the past year, investors with a longer term investment horizon chose to rent their units rather than sell.”

He adds, “While the condo rental market became better supplied in the fourth quarter, there are no indications of oversupply, given that rent increases continued at or above the rate of inflation. Furthermore, the condo vacancy rate reported by CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.) for 2012 only edged upward by one-tenth of one per cent compared to 2011.”