Trump’s tariffs and Canadian apartments: What’s next?
Impact on apartment owners
For apartment owners, the most immediate impact of a weakening economy is on rents. The rental market follows a pattern:
- class-A rents decline first, as high-income renters hesitate to commit amid economic uncertainty;
- class-B landlords must adjust rents downward to remain competitive; and
- class-C workforce housing, often home to long-term renters in essential industries, remains the most stable.
Now is not the time to panic — but it is the time to focus. You don’t control interest rates or economic policy, but you do control your property management.
Keep vacancies low, refine marketing strategies and ensure your leasing team is sharp. Rent optimization, resident experience and proactive marketing will be keys to maintaining occupancy.