Finding Accomodation as a new-comer in Canada

Welcome to Canada!

After you land in Canada, one of the very first things any new-comer will do is find accommodation in Canada. Based on your situation, your first home likely will be temporary accommodation including a rented house or an apartment. It is advised to atleast have somewhere lined up before arriving for a few nights. One option is to stay at hostels or hotels for the initial period of time after landing for short-term for a long-term solution. You can also choose homeis’s housing marketplace to find yourself a rented accommodation (LINK)

From your first night to your first lease signing, this article will give you an overview of how renting works in Canada. 

Short-Term Accommodation

After arriving in Canada, it is crucial to find some place for the first few nights until you rent or buy a home. There are a generous number of hostels and hotels in urban areas, though it is advised to book in advance to secure the choice of temporary accommodation in Canada available for you.

Do not hold-up for the last minute as the longer you wait, the higher the prices are, as cheap accommodation is booked in advance. You can either use a reservation website such as booking.com to book a hotel room or book a room/apartment through Airbnb for cheaper rates. You can also reach out to immigrant-service organisations in the city or province you plan to settle in. You can directly ask if there is any temporary housing for newcomers and their costing respectively. 

Finding houses and apartments for rent There are different types of renting houses available in Canada which includes houses, apartments, condominium and rental rooms which are nothing but large rooms divided into private rooms for renting purposes.

Keep in mind that the housing prices vary throughout Canada and cities like Toronto cost much more than cities like Montreal. Hence certain services mentioned in the rental agreement may include heat and electricity, while others do not.

Local newspapers, libraries and online websites like Kijiji and Cragslist can help you find a place to rent. You can also begin looking through professional renting websites such as RentHello or RentFaster.

Another very useful way of finding accommodation is to go around neighbourhoods you like to settle in and look for “FOR RENT” signs and posting on houses and buildings.

What to expect when renting in Canada? Landlords in Canada usually request for information to make sure that you will be able to pay rent every month without a fault.

Documents that may be requested before offering the lease :

• Payslips, or any document proving your income. 
• Bank Statement(s) with proof of enough money to cover rent for a few months. 
• Letter of reference from your previous landlord.

Most houses and apartments for rent in Canada require at least half of the monthly salary as security deposit. Landlord and tenant responsibilities can vary in different provinces/territories. Be sure to know your tenant rights and obligations. Get to know about tenancy law in the province you plan to move on. 

Note:

• Be sure to know about tenant rights and obligations.
• Visit these resources for more information about which city to live in?

Check Out the cities mentioned below:-

Toronto - Your Ultimate City Guide - Toronto

Edmonton - Neighbourhoods in Edmonton | Where to live

Calgary - Your Ultimate City Guide - Calgary

Vancouver - Vancouver neighbourhoods: where to live in Vancouver

Ottawa - Ottawa neighbourhoods: Where to live | Moving to Canada

Montreal -  Your Ultimate City Guide - Montréal

• Beware of online scams that try to dupe people by non-existing properties and asking for deposits for the same.
• Stay clear of bogus ads.