Why rental demand near the University of Calgary is high
Every fall, renters converge on the same handful of northwest Calgary neighbourhoods at once, and 2026 is no exception. The University of Calgary said 1,223 first-year residents were expected to arrive on Move-In Day, August 23, 2026, part of a total residence population of 2,894 students this fall, showing how many students arrive in the area shortly before the fall term.
Some of that pressure traces back to Varsity Courts, the university’s former graduate and family residence a short walk from campus. The University of Calgary confirms the final phase of its decommissioning took effect July 31, 2026, when the last remaining residents had to move out; the site is held by University of Calgary Properties Group and is being folded into the University District community. CBC News reported the closure was tied to the building’s aging infrastructure and its location next to the growing University District development. Former Varsity Courts residents must now find other housing.
Renters can use liv.rent to search current University District and Brentwood listings and review the verification information displayed on each one before messaging a landlord directly.
Seven rental buildings and upcoming developments near the University of Calgary
University District, the purpose-built community directly west of campus, holds most of the newest rental supply, while Brentwood, one CTrain stop east, offers an older but well-connected alternative. This list isn’t ranked; it includes buildings leasing today alongside two projects still under construction. Rents change often, so confirm current pricing directly with the building or through active liv.rent listings before you apply.
University District: Aria, Encore, The Forge, and Esquire
Aria sits at 4135 University Avenue NW, above a Save-On-Foods and other retailers along University District’s Retail Main Street. The building holds 288 rental apartments across one, two, and three-bedroom layouts, plus two guest suites residents can book for visitors.
Encore opened in August 2025 as Gracorp’s fifth project in University District. It pairs an eight-storey building with a 16-storey tower for 303 units and 440 beds in total, plus two and a half levels of secure underground parking, across the street from University District’s three-acre Central Commons Park. Encore’s own site advertises fully furnished, all-inclusive suites, with the option to lease a full unit or a single bed, plus roommate matching for students who do not already have one. As of September 2026, Encore advertised by-the-bed rates starting at approximately $1,000 a month for a shared three-bedroom layout, with some one-bedroom plans starting at approximately $2,000 a month, all-inclusive of electricity, water, heat, and internet, per its floor plan page.
The Forge, at 4030 University Avenue Northwest, offers 92 units above a retail podium, in one, two, and three-bedroom layouts, with an outdoor common area for residents; its own leasing site confirms suites are currently for rent. Esquire, at 380 Smith Street NW, is a University District condo building where Truman also operates a dedicated rental portion, leased directly through Truman’s rental arm.
Developments expected to open in 2027: Thesis and Scholar
Thesis broke ground as Gracorp and Harrison Street’s Block 22 project and will add 322 units and 645 beds designed for students, faculty, and professionals, built to Built Green Gold certification standards. Gracorp’s development and design manager says pre-leasing was scheduled to begin in September 2026, and Thesis’s own leasing site, which describes the community as “coming soon,” confirms it is set to open in September 2027.
Scholar is a joint venture between Truman and University of Calgary Properties Group at the corner of University Avenue NW and McCaig Street NW. The official groundbreaking announcement describes 203 one and two-bedroom purpose-built rental units and more than 12,000 square feet of main floor retail across six storeys, with completion anticipated in 2027.
Brentwood: one CTrain stop east
Brentwood station is one stop from University station on the Red Line, making the neighbourhood another option for renters who are comfortable commuting by CTrain. Brio is a purpose-built rental building near Brentwood CTrain station and McMahon Stadium, with more than 160 residences across 12 storeys.
| Building | Neighbourhood | Size | Status |
| Aria | University District | 288 units | Leasing now, one to three-bedroom |
| Encore | University District | 303 units, 440 beds | Leasing now, furnished, all-inclusive |
| The Forge | University District | 92 units | Leasing now, one to three-bedroom |
| Esquire | University District | Varies | Leasing now via Truman Rentals |
| Thesis | University District | 322 units, 645 beds | Pre-leasing scheduled Sept. 2026, opens 2027 |
| Scholar | University District | 203 suites | Under construction, completion anticipated 2027 |
| Brio | Brentwood | 160+ residences | Leasing now, steps from CTrain |
University District vs. Brentwood: which fits you better
University District is a newer, purpose-built community immediately west of campus, and it has the recognition to match. In May 2026, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association named University District the national winner of its Best Growing Community award at the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, held in Quebec City. The community includes walkable retail, newer construction, and rental buildings near campus.
Brentwood, one CTrain stop east, tends to offer an older mix of rental towers and condos at a wider range of price points, with the same quick run into campus on the Red Line. Banff Trail and Varsity sit further along the same corridor and are worth a look once University District and Brentwood options fill up for the season. Bowness, across the Bow River, is a separate area with different transit considerations, but it’s another option worth checking.
Search all of these neighbourhoods at once on liv.rent and set up a listing alert so a new match reaches your inbox before it disappears. A few current liv.rent listings across these areas:
| Building | Neighbourhood | Notes |
| Argyle | University District | Homes by Avi condo building, individual suites for rent |
| Brentwood Common | Brentwood | Steps from Brentwood CTrain station |
| Brentwood Road NW | Brentwood | Additional units in the same neighbourhood |
| Varsity Villas | Varsity | One neighbourhood south of Brentwood station |
| Bow River Townhomes | Bowness | Across the Bow River from University District |
Your rights as a renter in Alberta
Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) governs most private off-campus rentals near the University of Calgary, and its rules differ from what renters coming from British Columbia or Ontario might expect. Alberta sets no ceiling on how much a landlord can raise the rent, and a landlord cannot raise it at all during a fixed-term lease. For a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give at least three full tenancy months’ written notice, and rent cannot go up again until 365 days have passed since the tenancy began or the last increase, whichever is later.
A security deposit cannot exceed one month’s rent, and it has to sit in an interest-bearing trust account. For 2026, the province set the prescribed interest rate on those deposits at zero percent, down from 0.5% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2024.
Alberta landlords must complete move-in and move-out inspection reports within the required time periods and provide the tenant with a copy. Tenants should participate in the inspections where possible and keep their copies in case a deposit dispute arises. If something does go wrong, eligible tenancy disputes involving claims of up to $100,000 may be submitted to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) as an alternative to court.
This is general information, not legal advice. For anything specific to your lease, check liv.rent’s rental laws coverage or Alberta’s official tenancy resources.
What rent actually costs near UCalgary in 2026
liv.rent’s own August 2026 Calgary and Edmonton rent report puts Calgary’s average asking rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom at $1,465 a month, down 7.46% from $1,583 a year earlier. Furnished one-bedroom units averaged $1,576, a steeper 16.96% drop from $1,898 the previous August. Both are citywide averages rather than a University District specific figure, so use them as context for the broader northwest Calgary market; the full report breaks rent down further by quadrant.
The softer pricing lines up with a cautious economic backdrop: the Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate at 2.25% as of July 15, 2026.
Furnished, all-inclusive buildings change the math. Encore’s advertised by-bed rates start around $1,000 a month, all-inclusive of utilities, which can come out ahead of an unfurnished unit once separate electricity, internet, and heat bills are added in, though it is worth confirming exactly what is included before you sign.
| Metric | Calgary | Edmonton |
| Unfurnished 1-bedroom average | $1,465/month | $1,264/month |
| Unfurnished 1-bedroom, year over year | down 7.46% | down 2.91% |
| Furnished 1-bedroom average | $1,576/month | $1,413/month |
| Furnished 1-bedroom, year over year | down 16.96% | down 8.80% |
What to check before you sign near campus
Do not skip the move-in inspection report covered above; it is required under Alberta law and it is the document that protects your deposit later.
Full-time UCalgary students can also access Calgary Transit’s U-Pass, a post-secondary transit pass that has to be activated through My Fare or the Transit app before use. UCalgary is one of six major institutions in the program. Fees and sign-up windows change by term, so confirm the current rate directly with UCalgary or Calgary Transit before you budget for it.
Beyond that, a short list is worth bringing to every tour: ask what utilities are included in rent, confirm in-suite internet speed and whether it is bundled in, check for secure bike or vehicle parking, and read the pet policy before you assume your pet is welcome. liv.rent’s renter’s guide walks through the rest of the application process.
When to start your search near UCalgary
New supply is coming to University District, but not this year. Thesis’s pre-leasing was scheduled to begin in September 2026, with the community itself opening in September 2027, and Scholar has completion anticipated in 2027. In the meantime, Varsity Courts’ July 31, 2026 closure has added another group of renters to the same private market everyone else is searching. This year’s search is, in practice, happening against roughly the same limited pool as last year’s, with real relief still a year or more away.
Whether you are searching for a place to live or you manage a rental near campus, liv.rent is built for both. Renters can search verified University District and Brentwood listings and set alerts for new matches, while landlords with units in the area can list for free and reach students actively searching liv.rent for a place near UCalgary.
What are the top rental buildings near the University of Calgary?
In University District, directly west of campus, current options include Aria, Encore, The Forge, and Esquire, with Thesis and Scholar under construction. One CTrain stop east in Brentwood, Brio is a purpose-built option worth a look as well.
Does Alberta cap how much rent can increase near UCalgary?
No. Alberta does not cap the size of rent increases, and a landlord cannot raise rent at all during a fixed-term lease. For a month-to-month tenancy, landlords must give at least three full tenancy months’ written notice, and at least 365 days must pass since the tenancy began or the last increase, whichever is later.
How much is a security deposit for a rental near UCalgary?
Alberta law caps a security deposit at one month’s rent, held in an interest-bearing trust account. For 2026, the province set the prescribed interest rate on that account at zero percent.
What new rental buildings are coming to University District?
Thesis, a 322-unit, 645-bed project from Gracorp and Harrison Street, begins pre-leasing in September 2026 and is set to open in September 2027. Scholar, a 203-suite project from Truman and University of Calgary Properties Group, has completion anticipated in 2027.
Is Brentwood a good alternative to University District for UCalgary renters?
Yes. Brentwood station sits one stop from University station on the Red Line, and the neighbourhood generally offers an older mix of rental towers and condos at a wider range of price points than University District’s newer buildings.
What does rent cost near the University of Calgary in 2026?
liv.rent’s August 2026 Calgary and Edmonton rent report puts the citywide average asking rent for an unfurnished one-bedroom at $1,465 a month, down 7.46% year over year. That figure is citywide, not University District specific, so check current listings for the building and neighbourhood you’re interested in.
Do University of Calgary students get discounted transit?
Full-time students can access Calgary Transit’s U-Pass, a post-secondary transit pass activated through My Fare or the Transit app. Current fees change by term, so confirm the rate with UCalgary Transit directly.
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