St. Catharines · Port Dalhousie to Merritton
Tenant placement in St. Catharines, from Port Dalhousie to Merritton
We price, list, show and screen, then prepare the Ontario standard lease or a customized lease for your St. Catharines rental. You approve the tenant. One flat fee of one month's rent plus HST, paid only when they sign.
Free · No obligation · $0 until your tenant signs · 10-Month replacement guarantee
In short
Zola places screened tenants in St. Catharines houses, apartments and additional dwelling units, and in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake. The City allows up to two additional units per lot and offers grants of up to $40,000, or $80,000 for a detached unit; short-term rentals must be a principal residence. You pay one month's rent plus HST when your tenant signs.
St. Catharines rules to know before you rent
We don't have St. Catharines reviews to show yet, so here are the City's own rules, and where to check them.
- Up to two added units, with a grantDetached houses, semis and townhouses can have up to two additional dwelling units. The City's grant covers 70% of eligible costs, up to $40,000 for a unit inside the house or $80,000 for a detached one, applied for within 90 days of the permit.Source: City of St. Catharines, ADU grant program guidelines, checked October 18, 2026
- Short-term rentals: principal residence onlyA short-term rental must be the principal residence of the owner or a long-term tenant (lived in 183 days a year or more), for stays of 28 days or less, with a two-year licence, $2 million in insurance and demerit points that can suspend it.Source: City of St. Catharines, Short-term Rental Licensing By-law, checked October 18, 2026
- Newer units and rent controlUnits first lived in after November 15, 2018, including most new additional units, are exempt from Ontario's yearly guideline. Older units follow it: 1.9% for 2027.Source: Government of Ontario, residential rent increases, checked October 18, 2026
These are summaries to help you plan, not legal advice. Check the City's pages for your own property.
What we place in St. Catharines
Every St. Catharines placement uses the same process and the same flat fee.
- Tenant placementLandlords with a condo, house, basement unit, multiplex or apartment building to rent.
- CondosCondo owners renting out a unit, including owners who live abroad.
- Basement apartmentsHomeowners renting a basement or second unit, often for the first time.
- Houses and townhomesOwners renting a detached, semi-detached house or townhouse.
- Multiplexes and apartment buildingsOwners of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and apartment buildings of any size.
- Tenant screeningLandlords who want an applicant's income, identity and history checked properly.
Renting in St. Catharines: what we see
St. Catharines is Niagara's largest city, with a university on the escarpment, a hospital, a lakeside village and a lot of older houses that suit second units.
Near Brock University
Houses and units on the south side of the city near Brock, rented by students and staff. Leases tend to start in May or September, so we time listings to match.
Downtown and the hospital
Older houses, duplexes and apartments near the downtown core and Niagara Health's St. Catharines site. Health care staff ask about parking and quick drives to shifts.
Port Dalhousie and the north end
Lakeside houses and condos near the beach and Martindale Pond. Tenants here often commute to Hamilton or Toronto along the QEW.
Average asking rents in St. Catharines, September 2026
| Unit | Asking rent | vs. a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom | $1,518 | down 7.2% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,959 | up 3.3% |
All listed units, every size: $1,830 a month on average.
Source: Rentals.ca and Urbanation, National Rent Report, published October 7, 2026, with September 2026 listings. These are asking rents on new listings, not what sitting tenants pay. Rents across Ontario
St. Catharines rental rules at a glance
| Short-term rentals | Principal residence of the owner or a long-term tenant only, with a two-year licence and $2 million in insurance. Source: short-term rentals |
|---|---|
| Additional units | Up to two additional units on a lot with a detached house, semi or townhouse. Source: additional units |
| Grants and loans | 70% of eligible costs, up to $40,000 for a unit inside the house or $80,000 for a detached one. Source: grants and loans |
Checked October 18, 2026. Ontario-wide rules apply everywhere; we list only the local ones we found. Compare St. Catharines with other Ontario cities
Where we work in St. Catharines
We work across St. Catharines by appointment and meet you and your applicants at the property.
- Downtown
- Port Dalhousie
- Merritton
- Grantham
- Western Hill
- Facer
- Glenridge
- Martindale
Nearby towns we also serve: Niagara-on-the-Lake.
How it works in St. Catharines
A free strategy call on day 1, with a rental market analysis for your area; professional photos and a listing live within 12 to 24 hours; then showings, screening and a signed lease, usually about three weeks in all. You pay one month's rent plus HST when your tenant signs.
St. Catharines questions
Can I get help paying for a basement unit in St. Catharines?
The City's grant covers up to 70% of eligible costs, to $40,000 for a unit in the house or $80,000 for a detached one. Apply within 90 days of your building permit, before work starts.
Can I rent my St. Catharines house short-term?
Only if it's the principal residence of you or a long-term tenant, with a two-year licence and $2 million in insurance. Otherwise, a long-term tenant is the legal route.
What should a one-bedroom in St. Catharines rent for?
One-bedroom asking rents averaged $1,518 in September 2026, down 7.2% from a year earlier, and two-bedrooms $1,959, up 3.3% from a year earlier. We price your unit against comparable listings nearby.
Free · No obligation · $0 until your tenant signs · 10-Month replacement guarantee
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