Montreal Apartments, City of Renters

Montreal apartments for rent are much more affordable than apartments in most major North American cities. In fact, nearly 60% of locals rent rather than own their apartments in Montreal. A 2006 population census revealed that despite increasing home ownership, Montreal is traditionally, and continues to be, a city of renters.

The way apartments for rent in Montreal are described is somewhat peculiar. The layout is described by the total number of rooms (which may include the kitchen) to indicate its size, with the bathroom counting as a ½ room. For example, a small one-bedroom apartment in Montreal is referred as a 2 ½. That is, it has a separate bedroom with a living room, and bathroom.

Despite the number of five-storey buildings, the selection of Montreal apartments for rent across the city is wide and varied. As a central district containing the downtown core, the borough of Ville Marie is the most densely-populated district in the city, with a big percentage of high-rise condos and apartment buildings.

Unlike other North American cities, high-rise Montreal apartment buildings do not typically qualify as luxury units. Unless the building is advertised as "luxury apartments", the list of amenities and services can be short. Larger buildings often offer indoor pools and underground parking garages.

Just west of the Ville Marie borough, the city of Westmount features many smaller Montreal apartment buildings, particularly along rue St-Catherine and rue Sherbrooke. In these low-rise buildings and in older Montreal apartments for rent, the typical ceiling height is often 9 feet or more, compared to just 8 feet in a rental high-rise.

The Plateau-Mont-Royal borough also features low-rise buildings such as duplexes and triplexes. The majority are located along the southern edge, bordered by rue Sherbrooke, and western fringes (McGill Ghetto) of the borough.

The province of Quebec has always had a steady rental market because residents prefer living in apartments. Tenant turnover is 15 to 20 percent in Quebec compared to 35 percent in other parts of Canada.