According to CMHC's Rental Market Statistics Summary by Census Subdivision for October 2025 (published Dec. 11th, 2025):
- Kelowna (City): 6.9% vacancy rate
- West Kelowna (City): 5.3% vacancy rate
- Kelowna CMA (Overall): 6.3% vacancy rate
This is Primary Rental Market data, Total bedroom type, Row / Apartment.
What Data Source Are We Using?
This blog uses only one source:
CMHC - Housing Market Information Portal (HMIP)
Table: Summary Statistics - Primary Rental Market
Geography: Kelowna CMA (0670)
Reference Period: October 2025
No media articles. No estimates.
Kelowna vs West Kelowna: The Official Numbers
| Census Subdivision | Vacancy Rate (%) | Availability Rate | Average Rent | Median Rent | Total Units Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna (CY) | 6.9% | Suppressed | $1,916 | $1,800 | 9,159 |
| West Kelowna (CY) | 5.3% | Suppressed | $1,868 | $1,866 | 807 |
| Kelowna CMA Total | 6.3% | Suppressed | $1,906 | $1,800 | 10,680 |
| Lake Country (DM) | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | 139 |
| Peachland (DM) | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | Data Suppressed | 79 |
Notes from CMHC:
- Reliability codes: a = Excellent, b = Very Good, c = Good. West Kelowna's 5.3% is rated a - Excellent, Kelowna City's 6.9% is c - Good.
- ** = Data suppressed to protect confidentiality or data not statistically reliable
- Lake Country and Peachland are suppressed for vacancy in this period.
What is a Vacancy Rate?
Vacancy Rate (%) is the percentage of all purpose-built rental units that are physically unoccupied and available for rent at the time of the CMHC survey. It is the primary indicator of supply vs demand in the primary rental market.
What Does a 5.3% vs 6.9% Vacancy Rate Mean?
In the Canadian rental industry:
- < 2% = Extremely tight (landlord market)
- 2-3.5% = Balanced to tight
- 3.5%+ = Softening / Tenant choice increases
Both Kelowna City (6.9%) and West Kelowna (5.3%) are above the balanced threshold in October 2025. This indicates increased tenant choice compared to the <1% vacancy environment seen in the Okanagan in 2021-2022.
West Kelowna at 5.3% is 1.6 points tighter than Kelowna City at 6.9%, despite having a slightly lower average rent ($1,868 vs $1,916).
FAQs
What is the vacancy rate in Kelowna?
As of October 2025, the vacancy rate in Kelowna City (CY) is 6.9% in the primary rental market according to CMHC.
What is the vacancy rate in West Kelowna?
As of October 2025, the vacancy rate in West Kelowna City (CY) is 5.3% in the primary rental market according to CMHC.
What is the vacancy rate for the entire Kelowna CMA?
The Kelowna CMA total vacancy rate is 6.3% as of October 2025.
What is the average rent in Kelowna vs West Kelowna?
Average rent for all bedroom types is $1,916 in Kelowna City and $1,868 in West Kelowna City.
Why is data missing for Lake Country and Peachland?
CMHC suppresses data when the sample is too small to protect confidentiality or is not statistically reliable.
Is this data for condos?
No. This CMHC table is Primary Rental Market (purpose-built rental apartments and row units). It does not include secondary market rentals like investor-owned condos, single-family homes, or basement suites.
Data Reference: CMHC HMIP Table
For property-specific rental pricing, Vantage West Property Management conducts a comparative market analysis using current live market data alongside CMHC benchmarks. View our Average Rents page for numbers that you might expect to see on the Kelowna rental markets today.
