Canada’s housing market shifts, yet students still face barriers

With enrollments projected to drop over 26% this fall, student housing pressures in Canada have eased slightly, though affordability and safety challenges persist. Advertised rents are declining in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, but occupied-unit rents continue to rise sharply. International students remain most vulnerable, with many struggling to secure housing before arriving. In Brampton, Councillor Rowena Santos says the city’s expanded landlord licensing program—already issuing thousands of licenses and uncovering violations—offers a model for tackling unsafe, overcrowded rentals nationwide.