If you have been searching for rent price history in Scarborough, you are not alone. As of the week of February 22, 2025, landlords and investors across Ontario are trying to make sense of where rents have been, where they are now, and whether the softening trend that started in late 2023 has finally bottomed out. Scarborough, as one of the most densely rented districts in the Greater Toronto Area, serves as a useful barometer for broader Ontario rental market conditions, and the data from early 2025 tells a nuanced story.
At Blue Anchor, we manage long-term residential rental properties across Central Ontario, from Belleville and Trenton to Cobourg, Oshawa, and Picton. We do not operate in Scarborough directly, but the rent price trends coming out of the GTA ripple outward and affect how landlords price units, how tenants negotiate, and how investors evaluate cash flow in every market we serve. Understanding Scarborough rent history gives our clients a reference point for the broader provincial picture.
Rent Price History in Scarborough: What the Data Shows
Scarborough rents climbed sharply between 2020 and 2023. A one-bedroom apartment that rented for roughly $1,500 to $1,700 per month in 2020 was regularly commanding $2,100 to $2,400 by mid-2023, driven by immigration-fueled demand, low vacancy rates, and a near-complete halt in new rental supply during the pandemic construction slowdown. Purpose-built rental towers in areas like Scarborough Town Centre and Kingston Road corridors saw some of the steepest year-over-year increases in the GTA during that period.
By late 2023 and into 2024, that trajectory reversed. National platforms tracking Canadian asking rents reported year-over-year declines in average asking rents for the first time in several years. Scarborough was not immune. One-bedroom asking rents in the area dipped from peak levels, with some landlords reducing list prices by $100 to $200 per month to compete with a growing supply of newly completed condo units hitting the rental market. By February 2025, average asking rents for a one-bedroom in Scarborough were hovering in the $2,000 to $2,200 range, down from the 2023 peak but still significantly above pre-pandemic baselines.
Two-bedroom units in Scarborough followed a similar arc. Peak rents in 2023 touched $2,700 to $3,100 in well-located pockets near transit. By February 22, 2025, the range had compressed to roughly $2,400 to $2,800, with landlords in older stock competing harder against newer purpose-built units that offer in-suite laundry and modern finishes. Vacancy rates in Scarborough remained tight by historical standards but had loosened compared to the near-zero vacancy of 2022.
For context on why asking rents have been falling nationally, our article on Canadian asking rents falling and what Ontario landlords should do breaks down the structural reasons behind the shift and offers practical guidance for landlords re-pricing units in 2025.
What February 22, 2025 Conditions Mean for Central Ontario Landlords
The week of February 22, 2025 landed in a period of genuine uncertainty for Ontario landlords. Interest rates had been falling from their 2023 highs, but the Bank of Canada had not yet delivered the full series of cuts that would materialize by mid-2025. Carrying costs for leveraged landlords remained elevated, and many small portfolio owners were watching their cash flow margins compress as mortgage renewals came due at rates far above what they had locked in five years earlier.
In the markets Blue Anchor serves, the picture was mixed. Belleville and Trenton continued to show relatively stable demand driven by Canadian Forces Base Trenton postings, healthcare employment at Quinte Health, and a steady stream of buyers priced out of the GTA who chose to rent while they found their footing. At Blue Anchor, we were seeing well-maintained two-bedroom units in Belleville rent in the $1,500 to $1,800 range, with three-bedroom townhomes pushing toward $2,000 depending on finishes and location.
Cobourg and Port Hope, sitting along the 401 corridor between Toronto and Belleville, were experiencing slightly softer conditions as some GTA-adjacent renters who had relocated during the pandemic began filtering back toward the city. Oshawa remained one of the more active rental markets in our service area, with demand supported by Durham College, Ontario Tech University, and General Motors employment. In our experience managing rentals in Oshawa, well-priced units were still moving within two to three weeks of listing in February 2025, which is a healthy absorption pace for mid-winter.
The Rent Increase Guideline and Its Effect on Existing Tenancies
One of the most important numbers for Ontario landlords in early 2025 was the 2025 rent increase guideline, which had been set at 2.5 percent. For 2026, the guideline is 2.1 percent, as confirmed by the province. These guideline increases apply to most residential rental units first occupied before November 15, 2018. Units first occupied after that date are exempt from rent control under the Residential Tenancies Act.
At Blue Anchor, we track guideline increases carefully for every property we manage. Landlords who missed applying a guideline increase in a prior year cannot retroactively stack increases, so staying current matters. If you are managing a property where rents have fallen significantly below market, the only legal path to a larger increase for a rent-controlled unit is an Above Guideline Increase application to the Landlord and Tenant Board, which requires documented capital expenditure or extraordinary operating cost increases.
For landlords dealing with non-payment issues, the LTB process remains the required route. Serving an N4 Notice to End a Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent is the first step, followed by an L1 application if the tenant does not pay or vacate. LTB hearing timelines in February 2025 were still lengthy in many regions, though Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, introduced measures aimed at reducing those delays. If you want a deeper look at how eviction rule changes affect your options, our guide on Ontario eviction rule changes for 2026 is worth reading alongside this report.
Tenant Screening in a Softening Market
When vacancy rates loosen and landlords face more competition for qualified tenants, there is a temptation to lower screening standards to fill a unit faster. In our experience, this is one of the most expensive mistakes a landlord can make. A bad tenancy in Ontario is extraordinarily difficult and slow to unwind given RTA protections, and the carrying cost of a problem tenancy almost always exceeds the cost of a slightly longer vacancy.
At Blue Anchor, we maintained the same screening standards in February 2025 that we apply in any market condition. We look at credit history, income verification, rental references, and the overall picture a tenant presents. Our detailed process is outlined in our post on how Blue Anchor screens tenants. The short version: we do not cut corners because the market softened, and we encourage every landlord we work with to hold the same line.
One tool that helps us show units efficiently without compromising safety is our self-showing process. Rather than scheduling traditional agent-accompanied showings that eat up hours of coordination time, we use a structured self-showing approach that lets qualified applicants view a property on their schedule. If you are curious about the safety and efficiency case for that approach, our article on why self-showings are safer explains the reasoning.
Protecting Your Rental Investment Beyond Rent Pricing
Rent pricing is only one lever landlords have. In a market where asking rents are flat or declining, protecting your net operating income means controlling expenses and reducing risk. Two areas where we consistently see landlords leave money on the table are tenant insurance and owner draw timing.
At Blue Anchor, we offer a renters insurance program to our tenants that provides one million dollars in liability coverage and one hundred thousand dollars in pet liability coverage for approximately thirty to forty-two dollars per month. This is not just a benefit for tenants. It protects landlords from scenarios where a tenant-caused incident, a kitchen fire, a burst pipe from a neglected appliance, or a guest injury, results in a claim against the property owner. Requiring tenants to carry insurance as a lease condition is legal in Ontario and smart risk management. You can read more about why we built this program in our post on why we built our renters insurance program.
On the owner draw side, we pay landlords by the fifteenth of the same month rent was collected. Most large property management companies hold funds and pay owners on the tenth of the following month, meaning you could wait six weeks between rent being collected and money hitting your account. That gap matters when you are managing mortgage payments and carrying costs. Our full explanation of the draw schedule is in our article on when property owners get paid.
Looking Ahead: How February 2025 Fits Into the Bigger Picture
The week of February 22, 2025 was a snapshot in a market that was clearly in transition. Scarborough rent price history showed a peak, a correction, and a period of stabilization. Central Ontario markets like Belleville, Trenton, and Oshawa were holding steadier than the GTA, supported by employment anchors and lower baseline rents that had not climbed as dramatically during the boom years.
For landlords wondering how conditions evolved in the weeks that followed, our Ontario rental market report for February 28, 2025 picks up where this one leaves off and tracks the conditions heading into March. If you want a broader view of where the market went through spring, our Ontario rental market update for March 2025 covers the trends and insights that emerged as the spring leasing season opened.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the average rent in Scarborough in February 2025?
Based on available asking rent data from national rental platforms, one-bedroom units in Scarborough were averaging roughly $2,000 to $2,200 per month in February 2025, down from 2023 peaks of $2,100 to $2,400. Two-bedroom units were ranging from approximately $2,400 to $2,800 depending on building age, location, and included amenities.
How does Scarborough rent history compare to Central Ontario markets like Belleville?
Scarborough rents are significantly higher than what you find in Belleville, Trenton, or Cobourg. A two-bedroom unit that commands $2,500 in Scarborough might rent for $1,600 to $1,900 in Belleville. The trade-off for Central Ontario landlords is lower absolute rents but also lower purchase prices, which can produce comparable or better cap rates depending on the asset.
Does the Ontario rent increase guideline apply to Scarborough units?
Yes, for units first occupied before November 15, 2018, the guideline applies province-wide, including in Scarborough. The 2025 guideline was 2.5 percent. The 2026 guideline is 2.1 percent. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from rent control under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Is February a good time to list a rental in Ontario?
February is generally a slower leasing month compared to May through August, but it is not dead. In our experience managing rentals in Belleville and Oshawa, well-priced and well-presented units still attract qualified applicants in February, often from people who need to move due to job changes, lease endings, or family circumstances rather than lifestyle preference. Pricing competitively and having good photos matters more in a slower month.
What should Ontario landlords do if their asking rent is not attracting applicants?
First, check comparable listings in your immediate area, not just your city, but your specific neighbourhood and building type. If your price is in range and you are still not getting inquiries, look at your listing photos, your description, and your showing process. If price is genuinely the issue, a modest reduction of fifty to one hundred dollars per month is almost always less costly than an extended vacancy. Reach out to a property manager in your area who can give you a realistic market assessment.
Conclusion
The Ontario rental market as of February 22, 2025 was a market in recalibration. Scarborough rent price history shows a clear arc from pre-pandemic baselines through a sharp 2021 to 2023 run-up and into a correction phase that was still playing out in early 2025. For landlords in Central Ontario, the conditions were more stable but not immune to the broader forces shaping provincial demand and supply.
At Blue Anchor, we help landlords in Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Oshawa, and Picton make sense of market conditions and protect their investments through professional management. If you are a landlord looking for guidance on pricing, tenant screening, or full-service management, we would be glad to talk. Visit our Belleville property management page, our Trenton property management page, or our Oshawa property management page to learn more about how we work.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Rent figures cited are based on publicly available asking rent data and market observation as of February 2025. Landlords should consult qualified legal and financial professionals for advice specific to their situation. For authoritative information on Ontario rental law, visit Tribunals Ontario or Ontario.ca.
