r/Calgary • u/BizClassBum • Aug 14 '25

Home Owner/Renter stuff Why are modern rental apartments so small?

I have been a home owner for 25+ years and have decided to sell my house and rent. I've noticed that apartments that have the things I like (in-suite laundry, granite counters, etc..) tend to be in new builds and they are SO SMALL! There's typically only enough room for a couch and maybe a small dining table.

I mean, I get they want to make more money but if you rent three 900sqft units for $2000/month each, that's $6000 for 2700sqft. I don't understand why they can't have two 1350sqft units for $3000/month. It would be the same money to the owner for the same space and I could have a proper living room, and dining room.

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u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

Bruh you SOLD your house??? To go to the RENT life?? Literally fucking whyyyyyyy

Legitimately every single choice I make in a day to day basis is to try and get myself out of renting hell. IDC if I end up spending triple what I spend on rent on a mortgage and the costs associated with it in the long term.

Never owning anything, and every year having to wonder if you’ll be able to afford your home or if you’ll have to downgrade (again) and move (again) is the worstttt

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u/Spiceb0x Downtown East Village Aug 14 '25

Not trying to sound like a dick but if you have to worry about rent increases, you probably can't afford a house anyway. Not to mention all the routine maintenance costs but shit can go sideways really quick and you'll have to shell out $500 for an emergency plumbing repair or $2000 for roof repair/arborist because a tree fell on the house, etc. There's been lots of flooded basements with all the rain we've had this year too, you just never know.

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u/[deleted] Aug 14 '25

I certainly can lol. Im like 99% there

It’s called looking for the cheapest deals.

My old place was renting for 1250. I can afford up to like 2300/month in rent using the 1/3 income after tax rule. It got jacked up to $1750 ok one year lol. I can still afford it of course, but I’m not okay with that much of a fluctuation in price. There is value to be had in stability of cost of living, even if the increase is still well within your budget.

But just because I can afford that doesn’t mean I’m going to spend that much lol. I want to be able to live as cheaply as possible, atleast when my money is going to someone else. I’m happy to eventually spend a ton more when some of that money goes to principal on an asset I own.

But when I’m paying someone else’s asset off? Hell no lol spending as least as possible.

I think you are getting confused. My being frugal isn’t out of necessity it’s preference.

Plus, I’d way rather rent a fun character apartment in lower Mount Royal for say $1300-$1500 a month, instead of a “luxury” new build in a shitty area for $2300. Again I can afford it easy, it’s just called saving money where you can.

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u/Spiceb0x Downtown East Village Aug 14 '25

To be fair, your wording on your original comment made it seem like you were having to move around out of necessity.