Month: May 2026

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OREB Urges Bill 97 Implementation as a Critical Step to Protect Tenants and Support Rental Housing Stability

New Report Shows Renovation Evictions Well Under 1%, Questions Costly Licensing By-law

Ottawa, ON – (May 19, 2026) — The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is calling on the Province of Ontario to move forward with the implementation of tenant protection measures under Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, warning that a growing patchwork of municipal renoviction licensing by-laws risks creating inconsistency, confusion, and unintended consequences across the province’s rental housing system.

As municipalities, including Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Guelph, and Kitchener consider or implement their own local licensing regimes, OREB cautions that differing rules, processes, and compliance requirements are beginning to fragment Ontario’s housing policy framework. This emerging patchwork increases administrative burden, creates uncertainty for housing providers operating across jurisdictions, and risks discouraging the investment needed to maintain and expand rental supply.

“A patchwork of municipal by-laws with different rules in every city, creates confusion, drives up costs, and undermines confidence in the housing system,” said Tami Eades, President of OREB. “A clear, consistent, province-wide framework under Bill 97 is the right approach to protect tenants while ensuring we continue to support investment in rental housing.”

That recommendation is central to OREB’s newly released report Toward Balance: Recommendations to Protect Tenants and Prevent Bad-Faith Renovictions in Ottawa, that finds a proposed municipal renoviction licensing by-law is not supported by the available evidence and risks undermining housing supply and reinvestment. OREB’s report finds that renovation-related eviction notices in Ottawa represent less than one per cent of the city’s rental housing system annually, with an estimated 0.019 per cent of rental dwellings impacted each year based on an average of approximately 28 N13 notices annually over the 2017 to August 2023 period across more than 147,000 rental units.

An N13 notice is a formal document a rental property owner in Ontario can give a tenant when they need the unit vacant to carry out major work or changes. The report highlights that while concerns around bad faith renovictions are valid, existing data cannot distinguish between legitimate renovation activity and improper conduct.

“Ottawa needs policies that protect tenants from bad faith conduct while also supporting the reinvestment required to preserve rental housing affordability, quality, and supply over the long term,” Eades said.

Ottawa’s Aging Rental Housing Stock

Ottawa faces a significant housing challenge in the form of an aging rental housing stock requiring ongoing reinvestment. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, more than 47,000 or 32% of all rental units in Ottawa require repairs, including over 11,500 units in need of major repairs. The state of Ottawa’s rental housing stock underscores the importance of enabling timely renovation of units. It also provides an explanation of the increase in N13 notices by rental property owners.

Without timely repairs and continued construction, Ottawa faces a growing threat to both the quality and availability of rental homes. “If you make it harder, slower, and more expensive to renovate and reinvest in housing, it presents a barrier to investment and ownership of rental housing,” said Nicole Christy, OREB CEO. “The outcome is predictable: projects get delayed, repairs are deferred, and fewer homes get built. That’s a recipe for a weakened rental housing stock in Ottawa.”

A Better Path Forward for Ottawa

Rather than pursuing a costly and duplicative municipal licensing regime, OREB is calling on the City of Ottawa to build on its reputation as a leader in progressive, balanced, and data-driven housing policy by advancing a made-in-Ottawa approach that delivers real results.

The report recommends that the city:

  • Avoid a stand-alone municipal licensing regime and prioritize provincial action and targeted local supports.
  • Improve access to the Landlord and Tenant Board, including faster timelines and better enforcement;
  • Expand tenant education and support, ensuring renters understand their rights and how to access them;
  • Leverage existing municipal tools, including permits, inspections, and property standards, to ensure safe and compliant renovations; and
  • Establish a clear data collection and monitoring framework to better understand local conditions before introducing new regulatory systems.

“Ottawa has an opportunity to lead,” said Christy. “A balanced approach that protects and educates tenants while supporting housing reinvestment will deliver better outcomes than a costly and complex licensing system that may not address the root of the issue.”


Download the report here.

About OREB

The Ottawa Real Estate Board represents over 4,000 real estate professionals in the Ottawa region and is a leading voice on housing policy, market trends, and consumer protection. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, OREB works to advance policies that support a strong, fair, and sustainable housing system.

Community Development Worker 

Job Purpose 

OREB is looking for a motivated summer student to join our Government and Community Relations team as a Community Development Worker. If you are interested in housing, public policy, community engagement, and how professional associations work with government and community partners, this role offers practical, hands-on experience in a busy and meaningful environment. 

The Community Development Worker will directly support the Manager, Government and Community Relations with research, stakeholder outreach, meeting and event preparation, briefing materials, and day-to-day coordination. You’ll gain exposure to how OREB builds relationships with government, community organizations, housing partners, members, and other stakeholders to support informed housing policy, advocacy, and community-focused real estate solutions in the Ottawa region. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Communications Content (40%) 

  • Track municipal, provincial, and federal policy developments related to housing, real estate, affordability, planning, community issues, and other topics relevant to OREB’s work. 
  • Assist with preparing briefing notes, backgrounders, meeting materials, correspondence, and stakeholder updates. 
  • Help gather information from public sources, government websites, reports, consultations, and member input to support advocacy and government relations work. 
  • Support the Manager, Government and Community Relations in preparing for meetings with elected officials, government staff, community partners, and housing stakeholders. 
  • Maintain organized records of policy issues, stakeholder priorities, meeting notes, and follow-up items. 

2. Community Engagement and Stakeholder Coordination (40%) 

  • Assist with research, writing, proofreading, and formatting of materials related to government relations, community engagement, and public affairs. 
  • Help prepare agendas, speaking notes, summaries, event materials, presentation content, and follow-up communications. 
  • Monitor relevant housing, real estate, municipal, community, and public policy news to help identify trends, opportunities, and emerging issues. 
  • Support day-to-day administrative tasks, including scheduling support, file organization, document preparation, and project tracking. 
  • Contribute to a well-organized and responsive Government and Community Relations function by helping keep projects, events, and stakeholder activities on track. 

Qualifications 

Canada Summer Jobs eligibility requirements (must be met): 

• Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or individuals with refugee/protected status. 

• Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. 

• Candidates cannot be concurrently employed in more than one Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)-funded position at any given time. OREB will verify eligibility prior to hiring and throughout the term. 

• To qualify under the CSJ program, the successful candidate’s start date must fall within the eligible hire period noted above. 

Experience 

  • Currently pursuing education in public administration, political science, communications, community development, urban planning, public policy, social sciences, stakeholder relations, or another related field, with a minimum of one year of relevant work, volunteer, academic, or community experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Skills 

  • A strong interest in housing, community development, government relations, public policy, advocacy, or stakeholder engagement. 
  • Solid writing, research, editing, and note-taking skills, with strong attention to detail. 
  • Professional judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and comfort interacting with a range of stakeholders, including members, community partners, government representatives, and the public. 
  • Strong organization and time management skills, with the ability to track details, manage follow-up items, and support several priorities at once. 
  • Curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn how a professional association supports its members and contributes to housing and community conversations in the Ottawa region. 
  • Comfort using Microsoft Office tools, online research, spreadsheets, contact lists, and basic project tracking tools 

Salary Range

  • $20/hr; 35 hours per week for a maximum of 280 hours.

Term

  • 8-week term contract, starting between June 1st , 2026 and July 6th, 2026 and ending August 28th, 2026.

Eligibility

This is a job funded by the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. As such, we are only accepting applications for candidates matching funding eligibility outlined below.

Candidate Eligibility

  • Candidates must be between 15 and 30 years old.
  • Candidates must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person with refugee status granted. International students and individuals in Canada on a work, youth, or visitor visa/permit are not eligible for the program.
  • Candidate must not be concurrently employed in more than one CSJ-funded position at any given time.

Working conditions

  • Normal office environment. No unusual hazards. Generally, deals in routine conversations and interactions.

Physical requirements

  • This job requires a mix of sitting, standing and moving, with a balance between computer-based work and verbal communication. Physical effort is low intensity more than 2 hours per day.

Mental requirements

  • This job requires a balance between computer-based work and verbal communication. The candidate is regularly required to balance priorities between different stakeholders. Mental effort is low intensity.

Direct reports

None

How to Apply

To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to chike@oreb.ca.

Spring Activity Builds as Ottawa Market Remains Balanced

Market Overview

Ottawa’s housing market continued its seasonal rebound in April, with activity picking up month-over-month, following a slower winter. Inventory levels, which have been rising since late summer 2025, remain elevated, but stable. The spring increase in new listings has added to this supply, giving buyers more choice and flexibility.

The broader economic backdrop remains mixed. The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) recently revised its 2026 forecast downward, citing a weaker-than-expected start to the year and renewed inflation pressures, partly driven by rising energy costs. As a result, expectations for both sales and price growth have been tempered, with only modest gains now anticipated nationally.

Interest rate expectations have shifted. Earlier concerns that inflation could lead to rate increases contributed to more cautious buyer behaviour over the winter. With rates now holding steady, that immediate risk has eased. While borrowing costs remain above pandemic-era lows, they are more in line with long-term norms. A more stable rate environment may help reduce hesitation and support a gradual improvement in activity as buyer confidence strengthens.

“We’re seeing the market find its footing after a slower winter,” said OREB President Tami Eades. “April’s activity reflects a market that is gradually regaining momentum. Buyers are beginning to re-engage, and more listings are helping to keep conditions balanced across most segments.”

Residential Market Activity

In April, 1,336 homes were sold, down 1.9% year over year, but up from 1,075 in March.

New listings rose sharply to 3,258 units (+19.3%), pushing active listings to 4,535 units (+17.2%).

With listings continuing to outpace sales, the sales-to-new-listings ratio came in at 41.0%, consistent with balanced market conditions. Homes are taking slightly longer to sell, with median days on market increasing to 21 days, up from 18 days in April 2025.

Year to date, 3,839 homes have been sold, down 4.4% compared to the same period in 2025. While activity remains below last year’s levels, recent trends suggest that the 2026 market may be gradually strengthening.

New listings total 8,933 units (+8.5%), while active listings have increased 16.0%.

Prices and Market Balance

Home prices held steady in April. The average sale price was $712,184 (+0.8% year over year), and the median price was $650,000, unchanged from April 2025. Year-to-date, the average price stands at $683,303, and the median price is $630,000, both showing little change compared to the same period last year.

The MLS® Home Price Index provides additional context, indicating that benchmark prices have begun to stabilize following earlier declines. Most segments recorded modest month-over-month gains, apart from condo-apartments, which continue to lag. This aligns with the broader trend of price stabilization observed over recent months.

Market balance continues to be shaped primarily by supply. Active listings reached 4,535 units in April, up 17.2% year over year, while new listings also posted strong gains.

With a sales-to-new-listings ratio of 41.0% and 3.4 months of inventory, Ottawa remains in balanced territory. Compared to recent years, conditions are less competitive, with buyers benefiting from increased choice, and sellers facing more competition.

Months of Inventory:

  • Single Family: 3.1
  • Townhome: 3.0
  • Apartment: 4.9

Regional Market Comparison

Market conditions across Ottawa’s subareas continue to vary.

Ottawa Centre appears relatively stable from a pricing standpoint, but activity has eased. Sales are lower compared to recent years, while inventory has increased, resulting in slower absorption. This is largely due to the area’s higher concentration of condo-apartment units, which has been the softest segment of Ottawa’s market for several months.

Suburban markets across the east, south, and west remain generally balanced. Sales-to-new-listings ratios and inventory levels are within typical historical ranges, although sales activity has moderated in some areas, and supply has trended higher. Among these, the western suburbs stand out as the strongest segment, with more consistent sales activity, and slightly tighter inventory conditions.

Rural markets continue to operate at a slower pace, with higher inventory levels, and longer selling times compared to suburban areas. This results in more buyer-friendly conditions, along with greater variability in pricing data due to lower transaction totals.

Overall, while Ottawa’s market remains balanced at a high level, local conditions vary. Suburban areas are the most stable, with the west currently leading in activity. Central areas are seeing more moderate demand, while rural markets continue to experience slower absorption, contributing to a more varied regional landscape. Those interested in exploring these dynamics further can access the non-HPI report in the monthly stats package here.

Looking Ahead

Ottawa’s spring market continues to build momentum, with activity improving from the slower pace seen earlier this year. While sales have yet to fully offset the winter slowdown, recent gains suggest the market is beginning to regain ground as the season progresses.

Despite ongoing economic uncertainty, Ottawa continues to demonstrate relative stability. Prices have remained in a narrow range, and demand, while measured, continues to support balanced conditions rather than any sharp shift in either direction.

Inventory will remain a key factor to watch. Supply levels have been elevated for several months and continue to build through the spring, giving buyers more choice and increasing competition among sellers. If this trend persists, however, higher inventory could begin to place downward pressure on pricing and influence seller expectations in the months ahead.

April 2026

Media contact

Melanie Coulson
Director of Strategic Communications & Engagement
613-225-2240 ext. 247| melanie@oreb.ca