On October 22, 2026, CMHC published a Housing Observer analysis finding that nearly one million homes in Canada needed major repairs, based on 2021 Census data. That is 919,550 of about 15 million dwellings, or 6.1% of the housing stock. The data are from 2021, not a new count, but CMHC uses them to argue that keeping existing homes in good condition matters alongside building new ones.
- Homes needing major repairs: 919,550, or 6.1% of all dwellings (2021 Census).
- Renters were more likely than owners to live in homes needing major repairs: 7.3% versus 5.3%.
- The rate was 9.4% in subsidized housing and highest in the North: 26.6% in Nunavut, 18.4% in the Northwest Territories and 12.3% in Yukon.
- Canadian households spend roughly $25 billion a year on maintenance and repairs, according to Statistics Canada data cited by CMHC.
What CMHC found
CMHC says the share of homes needing major repairs has been fairly stable since 2016, but the number has grown with the size of the housing stock. Between 1996 and 2021, rates fell in every province and in Yukon, with the largest drop in New Brunswick, while the rate rose in the Northwest Territories. Indigenous people face much higher repair needs than the national average.
CMHC also links condition to health: homes needing major repairs are roughly 13 times more likely to have mould or mildew than homes in good condition, and almost 4 times more likely to have pests. Many of these homes are among the most affordable, CMHC's release notes, so losing them shrinks the supply available to lower-income households. The analysis notes federal, provincial and municipal repair funding, including more than $2.89 billion committed through the federal Affordable Housing Fund since 2018 to renew over 174,000 non-market units.
What it means for owners and buyers
Our interpretation: for homeowners, deferred maintenance is a cost that grows over time and can affect a property's value when it is appraised for a sale, refinance or renewal. For buyers, an older or more affordable home may come with repair needs that are not reflected in the asking price. Renters in buildings that need major work may want to know their rights under provincial tenancy rules.
What to check next
- If you are buying a home that needs work, a purchase plus improvements mortgage may let you finance some renovations at closing. Estimate the numbers with the purchase plus improvements calculator.
- If you own and are planning major repairs, see how much equity you may be able to access with the home equity calculator, and compare home equity lenders. Borrowing against a home adds debt and risk.
- A professional appraiser can assess how a home's condition affects its market value.
Sources
- CMHC, Build more. Lose less: Why maintaining existing homes matters, 2026-10-22. Accessed 2026-10-28.
- CMHC (via CNW), Nearly one million homes in Canada need major repairs: Why maintaining them matters, 2026-10-22. Accessed 2026-10-28.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Figures are from CMHC's October 22, 2026 analysis and refer to 2021 Census data unless stated.
