Staging Isn't Just for Sellers Anymore: Why Smart Landlords Are Furnishing Empty Rentals as Listings Pile Up

Red Barrinuevo, principal of Toronto-based staging firm Red Barrinuevo Home, noted in a September 2026 industry column that his company's rental staging projects have quietly eclipsed traditional sales work. Three years ago, the overwhelming majority of client inquiries involved preparing homes for the resale market; today, staging rental properties accounts for more than half of the firm's total projects. The numbers reflect a broader supply shift across Canada's largest city: the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board's Q1 2026 Rental Market Report recorded a six per cent year-over-year increase in actively listed rental units, marking the third consecutive year of growth in rental inventory. Barrinuevo's own operational data shows rental development staging grew seven per cent year-over-year from 2024 to 2025. The message is unambiguous—empty shells are no longer competitive when tenants have abundant options.