Renting in Canada Roundup: Is Your Landlord Spying on You?

Should every tenant be allowed to have a pet? What can you do about noisy neighbours? And is your landlord spying on you?

As always, this week's Renting in Canada roundup has the answers for domestic, newcomer, and international student renters.

Here's our look at what's making news in Canada's rental market as Canadians welcome May and a new Liberal government:

Did you know that Calgary has the lowest share of rental households in Canada? Joel Schlesinger explains in the Calgary Herald.

Adrian Rocca writes in the Toronto Star: "The time is right to build more rental: demand is strong, capital is available, and the economics are favourable for investors seeking returns. Smart, stable, attractive rental housing is just what we need."

Forget about nosy neighbours. What can a tenant do about noisy neighbours? Elana Shepert of Vancouver is Awesome has the answers

According to Dilshad Burman of Citytv, Toronto wants renters to be aware of a new “renoviction” bylaw, which is set to take effect on July 31.

Newly re-elected Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith says landlords across Canada should be forced to let tenants keep pets. Marie Woolf of the Globe and Mail has the story.

It can take years for newcomers to Canada to save for a down payment. That's why rent-to-own can be a smart path to home ownership in Canada.

It's always a good idea to thoroughly inspect your rental apartment. Nicola Seguin of CBC News has one young mom's horror story.

Some insightful, helpful advice about how landlords in Canada (and everywhere) can avoid mistakes when setting rent rates.

Do Canadians believe condos are still a good investment for home ownership or as a rental property? Aya AlHakim of RatesDotCa has the answer.

Did B.C.'s year-old crackdown on short-term rentals (a necessity for newcomers to Canada) work? Experts aren't sure, writes Ashley Joannou of The Canadian Press.

Are short-term rentals the scapegoat, along with international students, in Canada's housing challenges? David Hillar examines the issue for Real Estate Magazine.

Will rental demand in Canada ever bounce back? Don't count on it, warns Daniel Aizikov of RentSync.

And will plunging rents allow renters to buy? Maybe, but unfortunately, house prices aren't nosediving, writes Fergal McAlinden for CMP.

Apparently, the size of an average U.S. apartment is on the rise. Can renters hope for the same in Canada?

Finally, here's our Monthly Housing Newsletter for Newcomers to Canada and International Students. Please enjoy and share!

Steve Tustin is the Content Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.

Rentals for Newcomers provides rental solutions for newcomers and is powered by Rentsync, a North American market leader for property technology within the multifamily apartment industry. This gives Rentals for Newcomers access to the latest rental technology, tools, insights, and trends.