Where does the data come from?
We collect asking rents — the prices publicly advertised for units for rent. Sources are of two kinds:
- Building operator and property manager websites, which publish their available units and prices.
- Public listing sites, when a listing corresponds to a rental building.
Collection happens regularly, so the same offer can be observed several times. Repeated observations are used to follow how an offer changes — never to count extra units.
Asking rent vs. signed rent: what’s the difference?
An asking rent is the advertised price. It doesn’t prove the rent eventually signed in a lease, nor what current tenants pay. That’s why our figures differ from CMHC average rents, which cover occupied units. Both measures are useful; they answer different questions.
What each price represents
The same amount can mean very different things. We always keep the price basis:
| Price basis | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Exact unit | The price of one specific apartment. | $1,890 for 4½ unit #302 |
| From | The starting price of a unit type or floorplan. | 4½ from $1,745 |
| Range | An interval covering several units. | $1,650–$1,920 |
| Unknown basis | The source doesn’t establish what the price means. | “$1,700” with no detail |
When is an observation “current”?
For a current comparison, we first use the latest observation of each offer, then apply availability and freshness rules. By default, an observation is current if it was seen in the last 7 days. That’s an eligibility rule, not a promise that every source updates daily.
A newer observation showing an offer was withdrawn prevents an older, attractive price from still looking available.
When can a building serve as a comparable?
A positive price isn’t enough. We check the price basis, the dwelling category and the evidence at the source. When too few current comparables exist for a unit type — at least three in our sample reports — no estimate is produced and the report explains why.
Québec room counts (3½, 4½…)
In Québec, units are often described by room count: a 4½ usually has two bedrooms, but not always. We show the label as published by the source. When a bedroom count is derived, it is clearly marked as derived.
Limitations of our data
- Observed availability describes an offer seen at a source. It doesn’t prove a vacancy rate or a building’s full inventory.
- Source records are not automatically verified unique buildings or units.
- Unknown stays unknown: we never guess a bedroom count, a date or a building’s identity.
- Coverage extends across Québec; its density varies by market and area.
Dated reports and versions
Saving a comparison creates a dated version that keeps the evidence and assumptions of that moment. Refreshing creates a new version — the old one is never silently replaced.