Starting out in your career and weighing the West End? These seven rental buildings for young professionals in the West End are worth a look: Chronicle, Zephyr, Pendrell, Shoreline West End, Central Plaza, Ilikai, and Pacific Cove. In liv.rent’s October 2026 Metro Vancouver rent report, the average unfurnished one-bedroom in the City of Vancouver was $2,329, which is 2.6% below October 2025.
What is the West End, and who rents there?
The West End is one of the City of Vancouver’s 22 local areas, set between West Georgia Street, Burrard Street, Stanley Park, and English Bay. Most of the people who live in it rent. Davie, Robson, and Denman are the West End’s commercial streets, and you’ll find all seven buildings below inside its boundary.
The City’s 2025 profile of the West End, built on 2021 Census data, found that 81% of households rent, compared with 54% across Vancouver. People aged 25 to 44 make up the largest group living in rented homes there.
It’s also the densest neighbourhood in Vancouver. The profile counts 242 people per hectare against a city average of 59, and 79% of homes are apartments in buildings taller than five storeys.
The City’s West End neighbourhoods page splits the area into four residential neighbourhoods: Nelson Plateau, Nelson Slopes, West of Denman, and Beach. It describes quiet, tree-lined streets and a mix of building heights and styles. The City also says the buildings are aging but generally in good condition with significant reinvestment, and that they provide relatively affordable housing for a diverse population.
Day to day, the City’s West End page points to Davie Village and Denman Street for local shopping and restaurants, and to Robson and Alberni streets for high-end retail. It lists Second Beach Pool, the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, and the Joe Fortes library branch among local services, with dog off-leash areas at Nelson Park, Devonian Harbour, and Stanley Park.
Coal Harbour and Yaletown aren’t part of it. The City’s 2013 West End Community Plan lists them as separate downtown neighbourhoods beside the West End. The 2025 profile also says the 22 local areas don’t include newer neighbourhoods such as Coal Harbour and Yaletown. The same plan said the West End held about a third of Vancouver’s purpose-built rental housing, and that 90% of that stock was built before 1975. Those are old figures, so treat them as background rather than today’s count.
What does a one-bedroom cost in the West End?
liv.rent’s October 2026 report puts the City of Vancouver average for an unfurnished one-bedroom at $2,329. That’s a citywide figure rather than a West End one, so use it as a yardstick. It was the smallest drop of the nine Metro Vancouver cities in the report. It sits $246 a month above the $2,083 Metro Vancouver average, about $2,950 a year. Asking rents for suites in these buildings land on both sides of it.
The owners’ own pages show where. On November 9, 2026, Hollyburn’s Ilikai page listed a one-bedroom at $2,040 marked available now, and another from $2,325 for December 1. In early November 2026, Devon Properties’ Zephyr page listed a one-bedroom at $3,075. The $2,040 suite is $289 under the City average, about $3,470 a year. The Zephyr suite is $746 over it, about $8,950 a year. These are asking rents for particular suites, not building averages, and they’ll change as suites rent, so check each owner’s page for what’s open when you read this.
The squeeze is real for some people who already live here. The City’s profile found that 28% of West End households (not counting student households) were in core housing need in 2021, compared with 19% citywide. Affordability was the main reason. That’s a 2021 Census figure, so it shows the pressure rather than today’s market.
Which West End rental building suits you?
It depends on whether a pet, the Denman Street end, or the monthly cost matters most to you. Chronicle, Zephyr, and Pendrell say they’re pet friendly. Shoreline and Ilikai both tie themselves to Denman Street in their owners’ descriptions. Central Plaza, Ilikai, and Pacific Cove list heat and hot water as included, and Ilikai has the lowest asking rent quoted in this post. We chose buildings with a West End address whose owners publish their own details, and we mixed towers with different rules on pets, rent, and utilities. They aren’t ranked: the table follows no particular order, and the sections below group the seven by what each one offers. The table gives one fact about each that its owner or manager states.
| Building | Address | Run by | One fact to know |
| Chronicle | 825 Nicola St | GWL Realty Advisors Residential | A 21-storey market rental tower with 128 homes, opened in November 2021 |
| Zephyr | 1661 Davie St and 1181 Cardero St | Devon Properties | Two 21-storey towers with 330 suites |
| Pendrell | 1108 Pendrell St | Bosa Properties | In-suite laundry in every home, plus a rooftop terrace and fitness studio |
| Shoreline West End | 1763 Comox St | Devon Properties | 316 rental homes in a 32-storey tower that used to be the Coast Plaza Hotel |
| Central Plaza | 1160 Haro St | Hollyburn Properties | One-bedroom and penthouse suites, with a gym and a courtyard |
| Ilikai | 1905 Robson St | Hollyburn Properties | Heat and hot water are included in the rent |
| Pacific Cove | 1202 Harwood St | Devon Properties | An 11-storey, 90-unit building with heat and hot water included |
If you’re moving with a pet
Chronicle, Zephyr, and Pendrell all say they’re pet friendly. GWL Realty Advisors opened Chronicle on November 24, 2021, calling it the first rental building in decades on lower Robson. GWL’s opening release describes a pet spa, an outdoor space for dogs, and bicycle storage and maintenance facilities. It also lists a rooftop patio with an outdoor fireplace, fitness and yoga rooms, and a top floor that’s a common area for every resident. Chronicle’s own website says each home is unfurnished and pet friendly, with air conditioning.
Zephyr has 330 suites in two towers. Devon’s page says every home has in-suite laundry, air conditioning, and a private balcony, and that a newly expanded Safeway sits below the building. The amenities include a two-level fitness facility, a rooftop lounge with barbecues, a yoga studio, a dog wash, and a parkade with EV charging. In early November 2026 the page offered one month free to new residents who sign a 13-month lease. The fine print calls it a one-time offer and says Devon can withdraw or extend it at any time.
Pendrell is Bosa Properties’ rental building on Pendrell Street. Bosa’s page lists a pet wash, free bike storage, garden plots, and a rooftop terrace with views of English Bay. The homes range from studios to three-bedrooms. It also puts Nelson Dog Park a two-minute walk away, in Bosa’s words.
If you want Denman Street and the park close by
Shoreline West End and Ilikai both put Denman Street close, in their owners’ words. Shoreline is at 1763 Comox Street, and Devon’s page says it connects to Denman Place Mall, where a No Frills and a Shoppers Drug Mart are an elevator ride away. Every home has a balcony, and the suites run from bachelor to two-bedroom, between 496 and 1,115 square feet. The same page lists the building as not pet friendly.
Ilikai is at 1905 Robson Street. Hollyburn’s page says it’s right beside Stanley Park, with Denman Street’s shops and restaurants a few blocks away. On November 9, 2026, it also said heat and hot water are included, parking is $100 a month if available, and pets aren’t allowed.
If you want heat and hot water covered
Central Plaza is Hollyburn’s building on Haro Street. Its page describes a quiet residential street steps from Robson Street, a fully equipped gym, and a community courtyard, and it says pets aren’t allowed. Heat and hot water are included, Hollyburn says. It also puts the Burrard SkyTrain station a short stroll up the street. Hollyburn posts the building’s current suites and move-in dates on that page, so that’s where to check what’s open.
Pacific Cove covers heat and hot water in the rent. Devon describes an 11-storey, 90-unit building with renovated one- and two-bedroom suites, and it lists the building as pet friendly. Gated covered parking, bicycle storage, and an entry phone system are listed, and Devon shows parking and bike storage at a monthly rate. The page lists Sunset Beach Park, Nelson Park, and May and Lorne Brown Park as nearby walks.
What is changing in the West End this year?
If you’re weighing a building near Davie Village, the street is getting new sidewalks. The City’s Shape Your City page says construction between Jervis and Thurlow streets is underway, following an announced September 8, 2026 start, and the City expects to finish in spring 2028.
It’s a two-block project that will widen the sidewalks and make room for patios, trees, and new lighting, and the City says work will be sequenced to reduce the effect on businesses and the community. Davie is a construction priority among the West End’s commercial streets, and the City expects more public engagement on Robson and Denman streets in future years. The City’s 2013 plan also set out extra density for some sites on lower Davie and lower Robson that provide 100% secured market rental housing or 20% social housing. Separately, the City’s West End Community Plan page says a 30-year plan is being developed for the parks, beaches, and connections along the waterfront.
What should you know if you rent in the West End?
Each building sets its own rules, and the seven differ on the ones that matter day to day. Chronicle, Zephyr, Pendrell, and Pacific Cove say pets are allowed, while the pages for Shoreline, Central Plaza, and Ilikai say they aren’t. Central Plaza, Ilikai, and Pacific Cove list heat and hot water as included.
Free-rent offers come with conditions. Devon’s Zephyr offer, for example, covers new residents who sign a 13-month lease, and Devon can withdraw or extend it at any time. Our guide for renters covers how liv.rent works for tenants. If the West End isn’t quite right, our B.C. neighbourhood guides cover other areas, and on liv.rent you can browse current West End rental listings.
What should you know if you’re a landlord in the West End?
Large owners’ asking rents give you a reference point. On November 9, 2026, Hollyburn’s Ilikai page listed a one-bedroom at $2,040, and in early November Devon’s Zephyr page listed one at $3,075, with one month free for new residents who sign a 13-month lease. Those two sit on either side of the City figure. In liv.rent’s October 2026 report, the City of Vancouver average was $2,329, and all nine cities had lower unfurnished one-bedroom rents than a year earlier.
If you own older rental units here, the City’s 2013 West End plan said the area’s older rental buildings are protected under its Rental Housing Stock Official Development Plan. It’s a 2013 statement, so a lawyer can tell you how it applies to your building today. If you’re pricing a suite, liv.rent’s free rent estimate uses your listing details and current market trends, and liv.rent also offers tenant screening.
What are B.C.’s rent rules for 2026 and 2027?
In B.C., the yearly rent increase limit for residential tenancies is 2.3% for 2026 and 2.2% for 2027, and the 2027 limit takes effect on January 1, 2027. The Province’s rent increases page, updated August 27, 2026, says your landlord must give at least three full months’ notice and can’t raise rent more than once every 12 months. The notice goes on the RTB-7 form. That’s general information, not legal advice. Our B.C. rent increase guide covers more.
Is the West End a good neighbourhood for young professionals to rent in?
The City of Vancouver’s 2025 profile, using 2021 Census data, found that 81% of West End households rent and that people aged 25 to 44 are the largest group living in rented homes. It’s also the city’s densest neighbourhood, at 242 people per hectare. Whether it suits you depends on your budget and whether you have a pet.
How much does it cost to rent a one-bedroom in the West End?
liv.rent‘s October 2026 report puts the City of Vancouver’s average unfurnished one-bedroom at $2,329, a citywide figure rather than a West End one. On November 9, 2026, Hollyburn’s Ilikai page listed a one-bedroom at $2,040, and in early November Devon’s Zephyr page listed one at $3,075.
Which West End rental buildings allow pets?
The owners’ own pages say Chronicle, Zephyr, Pendrell, and Pacific Cove are pet friendly. Hollyburn’s pages for Central Plaza and Ilikai say no pets, and Devon’s page lists Shoreline West End as not pet friendly. Policies can change, so confirm with the building before you apply.
Are Yaletown and Coal Harbour part of the West End?
No. The West End is one of the City of Vancouver’s 22 local areas, set between West Georgia Street, Burrard Street, Stanley Park, and English Bay. The City’s 2013 plan lists Coal Harbour and Yaletown as separate downtown neighbourhoods, and its 2025 profile says the 22 local areas don’t include newer neighbourhoods such as those two.
How much can a B.C. landlord raise rent in 2027?
In B.C., the Province’s 2027 rent increase limit for residential tenancies is 2.2%, taking effect on January 1, 2027, after 2.3% in 2026. Landlords must give at least three full months’ notice on the RTB-7 form, and rent can go up only once every 12 months. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is Davie Street under construction?
Yes. The City’s Shape Your City page says construction on Davie Street between Jervis and Thurlow streets is underway, following an announced September 8, 2026 start, and the City expects to finish in spring 2028. The project widens sidewalks and makes room for patios, trees, and new lighting.
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