Episode 2 — Ottawa’s Rental Reality: Rising Rents, Scams, Pets & the Path to Homeownership

In this episode of Real Estate Reality, we sit down with Chantal Lafontaine of eXp Realty Ottawa, one of the city’s most experienced rental specialists, to unpack what’s really happening in Ottawa’s rental market.

From uneven vacancy rates and investor pullback to tenant screening, rental scams, and the myths surrounding landlords, this conversation goes far beyond headlines and social media hot takes.

We cover:

• Why some rental pockets are flooded while others are ultra-competitive

• How new construction and demand shifts are impacting supply

• Why many landlords are actually losing money

• How rental scams are getting more sophisticated, including a real case study

• How tenants can stand out and protect themselves

• The truth about pets, screening, and common misconceptions

• How renters can realistically transition into homeownership

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & Guest Welcome

00:57 - Ottawa Rental Market Overview

02:08 - Vacancy Rates & New Construction

04:48 - Rental Affordability & Embassy Tenants

07:45 - Impact of Interest Rates & Investor Pullback

10:28 - Landlord Challenges & RTA

13:06 - Investor Types & Market Trends

16:06 - Renting vs. Home Ownership

21:00 - Landlord Best Practices

24:00 - Tenant Screening & Common Mistakes

28:00 - Rental Scams & How to Avoid Them

34:00 - Pets in Rentals: Myths & Realities

39:00 - Turning Renters into Homeowners

44:00 - Final Tips, Myths, and Closing Thoughts

If you’re navigating Ottawa’s rental market or thinking about making the jump into homeownership, reach out to Chantal Lafontaine or our team and we’ll help you build the plan.