Blog7 Best Reasons For Renting in Burnaby

Burnaby offers so much for renters! You may already be living here and looking at other apartments or homes for rent, or, you might want to move to Burnaby from another part of Metro Vancouver, either way, VADA is here with info about the Burnaby lifestyle.

As a property manager in Metro Vancouver for nearly 20 years, VADA is deeply knowledgeable about Burnaby. Plus, our new office is in Burnaby’s Brentwood area so it’s our home, too. The highlights? Burnaby is centrally located, transit-friendly, and has easy access to all your everyday amenities.

Plus, it has rental options for every phase of life. Whether you’re a university student who needs a studio apartment rental near SFU, a young professional looking for a 1 bedroom apartment for rent in burnaby close to transit, or a family interested in townhouse rentals close to schools, Burnaby has it all for long-term rentals.

Below, we list seven reasons why renting in Burnaby is a great rental option. We’ll talk about:

Proximity to Vancouver
Transit Access
Variety of Rental Types
Family-friendly
Metrotown
Brentwood
Perfect Location for Post-Secondary Students

1. You’re Right Next Door to Vancouver, And Central to Other Cities

One of the biggest perks of renting in Burnaby? It’s next door to Vancouver, which means you get convenient proximity to the Vancouver lifestyle without necessarily paying the same rental rates.

Need to commute downtown for work? Studying at UBC or Emily Carr? Have dinner plans in Gastown or tickets to a concert on Granville Street? From Burnaby, it’s all a seamless experience.

Even better, homes for rent in Burnaby often have more square footage than a comparable home in Vancouver. So whether you’re checking out 2 bedroom rentals in Brentwood, townhouses for rent in Highgate, or cozy basement suites rentals in Burnaby Heights, you may get more elbow room than you do in Vancouver.

Burnaby is also conveniently central for heading out to other cities in Metro Vancouver. Head east, and Coquitlam is your neighbour, while New West is just to the south. Major driving and transit routes connect you easily to Surrey, Richmond, and Delta, with North Vancouver just across Burrard Inlet. You’re really in the middle of it all.

2. Transit-Friendly Living

If you love the idea of leaving the car at home—or at least not relying on it every day—Burnaby’s public transit can help.

The city is woven together by bus and SkyTrain, with the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain lines connecting you directly to Vancouver, New Westminster, Port Moody, Surrey, and Coquitlam. Add frequent and dependable bus service, and you’re looking at a convenient transit network that takes you around Burnaby and beyond.

Whether you’re hopping on at the SkyTrain station hubs of Metrotown or Brentwood, or living along the Edmonds corridor, it’s easy to get where you need to go.

This makes Burnaby especially appealing if you’re looking at long-term rentals as a student, commuter, or young professional. With a 1-bedroom rental in Metrotown, for example, you’re a short walk from the SkyTrain. Same goes for neighbourhoods like Lougheed, Gilmore, and Royal Oak with SkyTrain stations serving those communities.

And if you do drive? Burnaby is located right along Highway 1 and major routes like Kingsway and Lougheed Highway. Getting around is efficient, no matter which transportation you choose.

3. Your Pick of Rental Types: Apartments, Townhomes, Houses, Basement Suites & More

Not every renter is looking for the same thing—and Burnaby shines in the options department.

Whether you want the convenience of high-rise living, the privacy of a detached home, or the affordability of a basement suite, you’ll find it here. Unfurnished or furnished rentals, pet-friendly renting or not, Burnaby has a variety of rental homes to suit a range of lifestyles.

Here’s a snapshot of what you may find in your rental home search:

Apartments for rent in Burnaby, from studios to luxury penthouses
Townhomes for rent in Highgate or Edmonds, perfect for renters who need a bit more space and don’t want a lot ot yard to maintain
Entire homes for rent in North Burnaby or Deer Lake, offering space and comfort in family-friendly neighbourhoods
Basement suites for rent in South Slope, which positions you closer to New Westminster
New towers with apartment rentals a short walk to Metrotown and Brentwood malls

For renters, searching in Burnaby offers the opportunity to find a home that fits your life.

4. A Family-Friendly City with Plentiful Schools and After-School Activities

Burnaby is a great city for families who want urban amenities, good schools, and a diversity of opportunities for the kids.

Here’s what stands out:

Neighbourhood-Centred Schools

The Burnaby School District has 41 elementary schools and eight secondary schools serving 27,000 students. As an urban school district, Burnaby schools serve a diverse population across its four zones. As of 2021, 54% of the population has a primary language other than English or French at home. Many families search specifically for homes for rent in Burnaby within a walkable distance to elementary and secondary schools.

After-School Activities for Every Interest

Burnaby offers no shortage of things for kids to do to develop their artistic, athletic, or intellectual passions:

Sports leagues
Community centre programs at its nine recreation centres
Dance studios and Music lessons
Swimming and skating lessons
Parks and playgrounds in abundance
Tutoring and supplemental education programs

Choosing to rent in Burnaby means giving your family an environment that feels stable and active, with plenty of opportunities to keep kids engaged.

5. Metropolis at Metrotown: Burnaby’s Original All-In-One Hub

We cannot talk about renting in Burnaby without mentioning Metropolis at Metrotown. With hundreds of stores and a movie theatre, it’s not just a shopping mall—it’s a go-to gathering place to shop, eat, and connect with family and friends.

And it’s not just the mall itself that makes Metrotown Burnaby’s hub. The area around it is abuzz with even more restaurants, the Bob Prittie public library, Bonsor Rec Centre, and the SkyTrain and bus hub. Residential density is also continually growing and evolving in the Metrotown area. Check out our previously-rented list of Metrotown rentals to get an idea of what living in the Metrotown area is like.

6. The Amazing Brentwood: North Burnaby’s Master-planned Community

On Lougheed Highway, a new residential and commercial hub is taking shape. It includes residential rental apartments, shopping at Brentwood Town Centre, and a SkyTrain Station. We love this area, so much so that we recently moved to a brand new head office in this neighbourhood.

7. Perfect for Students: Home to SFU and BCIT

One last reason that answers, “Why rent in Burnaby?” This one’s for the students. Burnaby is a student-friendly city, largely because it’s home to both Simon Fraser University and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Simon Fraser University

Located atop Burnaby Mountain, SFU is a world-class campus with stunning views, modern amenities, and a growing residential community. Students looking for apartments for rent in Burnaby gravitate towards neighbourhoods like UniverCity, Lougheed, Burquitlam, and Brentwood for quick access to school by car or transit.

British Columbia Institute of Technology

BCIT’s Burnaby campus is centrally located and accessible by transit. Post-secondary students looking for housing near BCIT should look for homes for rent in Brentwood, Metrotown, Central Burnaby, Willingdon Heights and Burnaby Heights.

The Perks of Renting With a Professional Property Manager

So we’ve covered some of the reasons why rental homes in Burnaby are appealing. Now let’s talk about one of the biggest advantages renters can experience: living in a rental managed by a property management company. When you have the support of a licensed, reputable property management company in Burnaby like VADA, you benefit from:

24/7 Emergency support: No more panicked calls trying to find a landlord if something breaks. The VADA team is available with a quick response time, providing stability and support when you need it the most. Plus, when in doubt, you can refer to this tenant care portal.

Licensed property managers: Our property management professionals follow all local regulations governing rental homes and tenancy laws. We maintain licenses and memberships with the:

Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV)
BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA)
Professional Association of Managing Agents (PAMA)

A trusted local name with decades of experience: VADA has built a reputation of unparalleled integrity and professionalism. As a renter, you can have peace of mind knowing that we’re an industry leader serving Metro Vancouver for nearly 20 years and 25,000+ tenants placed in that time. We know property management inside and out.

Our recent rebrand from ADVENT to VADA reflects a fresh direction that puts community well-being and future-friendly thinking behind everything we do. However, have confidence knowing we serve with the same experienced team, industry expertise, and commitment to exceptional rental experiences.

Ready to Search for Rental Homes in Burnaby?

Whether you’re searching for detached homes, townhomes, or apartments for rent in Burnaby, VADA has a variety of 1 year lease listings to explore. You can find unfurnished rentals or furnished, pet-friendly or not.

Our comprehensive listings give you all the details you need to make an informed decision, including:

home and building features
walk, transit, and bike scores
a neighbourhood amenities map
tenancy policies

Browse VADA's Burnaby apartments and homes for rent now. Each listing has quick links to start a tenancy application or schedule a viewing. And if you don’t see what you want, check back regularly. You may find the best 1 bedroom rental apartment or whatever your housing needs may be.

Author: Neil McGuinness
Date Published: 01/16/2026 - 09:45
Date Modified: 02/23/2026 - 14:26