Housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents in ownership and rental markets

Understanding the housing use of immigrants and non-permanent residents (NPRs) is important for developing effective housing policies and urban planning strategies. Using 2021 Census data, this study estimates housing unit occupancy rates—defined as the number of dwellings per 1,000 people—for immigrants and NPRs. These rates reflect housing use constrained by factors such as financial resources, living preferences and housing supply availability. The analysis of the 2021 Census data shows that immigrants typically exhibit higher housing occupancy in the ownership and rental markets compared with Canadian-born individuals. On average, immigrants occupy 310 owned units and 151 rental units per 1,000 people, totalling 461 housing units, compared with 397 housing units for Canadian-born individuals. NPRs, meanwhile, occupy 41 owned units and 316 rental units per 1,000 people, for a total of 357 housing units. As immigrants spend more time in Canada, their reliance on the rental market decreases and homeownership increases. In their initial years after admission, immigrants have lower housing occupancy rates than Canadian-born individuals. Over time, however, their housing occupancy rises significantly, driven by a substantial growth in homeownership—underscoring the lasting impact of immigration on the ownership market. The findings also suggest that an increase in immigration would particularly heighten demand for single-detached homes in the ownership market and for rental apartments, while a rise in NPRs would primarily boost demand for rental apartments. Additionally, immigrants and NPRs are both more likely to own homes in smaller municipalities than in larger municipalities, emphasizing varying impacts of immigrants and NPRs across different municipal contexts.