Homes to rent. A chance to own.

Our case for change

A good housing plan must give people both choices: a safe home to rent and a fair chance to buy. We want more people to own assets and build wealth. The path should not depend on having rich parents, and renters should not be left behind.

The wealth gap is large

In 2023, young families who owned their main home had median net worth of $457,100. For young families who did not own their main home, it was $44,000. Here, young means the top earner was under 35. Median means the middle family. Net worth means what a family owns, less what it owes. These amounts use 2023 dollars.

[1]

A gap is not proof of cause

This survey does not show that buying a home caused the whole gap. People with more money may be more able to buy. Family help, pay and saving habits can differ too. A home can build equity, but it can also fall in price. Loan interest, repairs and fees matter. Renters can build wealth in other ways.

[1]

Count homes to buy as well as rent

CMHC’s fall 2026 report warns that strong rental building can hide weak supply of homes to own. It finds this risk across several major cities. Rental growth is welcome. We also need small homes and flats that people can buy. A condo counts as ownership. The goal is choice, not a large house on a large lot.

[3]

Show the full path to a first home

Publish the full cost of a small home, from land to move-in day. Show the deposit, monthly loan bill, taxes, fees, repair costs and travel costs. Say what the buyer owns: the building, the land, or a share. A low sticker price is not enough. Keep long-term rental homes in the plan and measure whether both choices get easier.

The strongest challenge to our case

Cheaper credit alone can help people bid more for the same few homes. A fair path to own needs more choice and full cost checks, not a promise that home prices will keep rising.

What we want changed

Make room to own
Allow small homes, condos and safe ways to split land into smaller plots.
Track both choices
Track rental and purchase costs side by side, by income and household size.
Show every cost
Require clear loan fees and a clear account of what each buyer owns.

Who can act

Housing officials and local councils set the rules for new homes. CMHC and Statistics Canada can track costs. Lenders and consumer watchdogs can make loan costs clear.

What this could cost the public

No new grant or spending total is proposed. Rule changes and reporting still have admin costs; these have not been costed nationally. Any new public works, grants or guarantees need a separate costed proposal.

Explore the data behind the case

Each chart has its own dates, sources and limits. Open it to see the full data and download the figures.