A new Statistics Canada report has debunked a persistent narrative in the housing market: that large institutional investors are the primary force driving up rents. Data from 2022 reveals that small-scale individual investors—those owning five or fewer properties—remain the dominant force, controlling approximately 50% of rental property value in Ontario and British Columbia. While public scrutiny often focuses on REITs and large funds, the study confirms these entities remain a marginal presence in the broader owner-occupied market, holding less than 0.5% of the total housing stock in Ontario. Although institutional players are increasingly active in the purpose-built rental sector, the market remains non-concentrated and competitive according to the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index. For GTA stakeholders, this data suggests that local rental pressure is driven more by fragmented individual ownership than by institutional consolidation. To dive deeper into the full StatCan report and understand how these ownership trends impact your portfolio, read the original article at mpamag.com.
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