This article is a comprehensive guide to getting affordable housing in Canada. By providing this information, we aim to equip you with the knowledge required to make the right decisions about your accommodation in Canada.
Securing affordable housing is crucial for immigrants making their way to Canada. There’s a range of cost-effective accommodations that are available to meet your housing needs. Below are the housing options catering to various preferences and budgets available to you as an Immigrant in Canada.
- Rental Apartments and Condos:This is one of the most popular options for newcomers. Apartments and condos are available in various sizes and locations, making it suitable for individuals, couples, and families. Renting provides flexibility and eliminates the responsibility of property maintenance.
- Shared Accommodations:Sharing a living space with roommates or other individuals can significantly reduce housing costs. This option is popular among students and young professionals.
- Basement Suites:Many homeowners in Canada have converted their basements into self-contained living spaces. These suites usually include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living area.
- Houses for Rent:Renting a house is an option for those who prefer more space and privacy. Houses are available in various sizes and styles, and some may come with a yard.
- Cooperative Housing:In a cooperative housing arrangement, residents collectively own and manage the property. This can be a more affordable option, but it may require a higher level of involvement in the community.
- Social Housing:Social housing is subsidised housing provided by government agencies or non-profit organisations. Eligibility criteria and waiting lists may apply.
- Temporary Accommodations:For those who have just arrived and are in need of short-term housing, there are options like hostels, extended-stay hotels, and temporary furnished rentals.
- Home-ownership:Owning a home is a long-term goal for many immigrants. There are various programs and incentives available to help newcomers become homeowners.
- Rural and Northern Housing Programs:These programs are designed to encourage immigration to less populated areas of Canada. They may offer incentives like lower housing costs and additional support services.
- Indigenous Housing Programs:Indigenous housing programs provide affordable housing options and support services for Indigenous peoples.
- Seniors’ Housing:There are specialised housing options for seniors, including retirement homes, assisted living facilities, and long-term care homes.
Where To Find Accommodation In Canada as an Immigrant
liv.rent
liv.rent is a Vancouver-based all-in-one rental platform available in B.C., Ontario, Montreal, and Calgary & Edmonton that allows landlords and tenants to rent safely and securely thanks to an extensive verification process and tools like the Trust Score tenant screening tools, available on a pay-per-use basis for Essentials users and included in the platform’s Growth and Business plans.
As you can see, liv.rent unsurprisingly ticks all of our boxes, and has a variety of features for every stage of the rental process, for both landlords & renters.
On liv.rent, tenants can easily search for rentals using a variety of filters and even a map view, then quickly message landlords for more information using built-in instant chat. From there, they can submit applications, book viewings and when it comes time, sign lease agreements and pay rent and security deposits through a variety of methods including credit card, UnionPay and even Bitcoin.
Benefits of liv.rent
- Extensive User Base and Reach
- Free to Use
- Diverse Categories and Listings
- Localised Search and Convenience
- User-Friendly Interface and Mobile App
- Opportunities for Bargains
- Promoting Sustainability
- Job Opportunities and Freelancing
- Supportive Community and Safety Measures
Opportunities for Small Businesses.
The average estimation of rent on liv.rent can vary significantly depending on several factors, including location, property type, and the number of bedrooms.
Zillow
Zillow is primarily a platform for buying and selling real estate, but the site is also a popular place for renters & landlords, especially in metropolitan areas like Vancouver and Toronto.
The platform has a variety of tools to simplify the lives of both landlords and renters, although it’s two shy of a perfect 12/12. Zillow is free to start for landlords but has ongoing weekly fees for additional listings, which means it can get expensive quickly if you have multiple properties to rent.
Zillow is fairly easy to browse thanks to a handy map view and a simple, easy-to-navigate layout. Renters can also request to book showings/submit applications directly from the listing page using pre-set forms. It’s also handy to be able to see exactly when listings were posted front and centre to save time applying to outdated posts.
Benefits of Zillow
The benefits of are clear: affordability, transparency, accessibility, and efficient property management.
- Cost-Effective Solutions
- Transparency and Accessibility
- Efficient Property Management
- Requirement Needed to Get Temporal Housing on Zillow
Estimated Price of Temporal Housing on Zillow
To get the most accurate estimate of rental prices on OpenRent, I recommend using the platform’s search filters.
You can input your specific criteria, including location, property type, and budget, to view properties that match your preferences.
This way, you can find apartments that are within your desired price range.
Condos.ca
Condos.ca has a lot of the basics you need to rent a home in Canada. Available in a number of Canadian cities, this popular platform facilitates both sales and rentals in one location, with quite a few of the most important features users should look for.
Renters will benefit from the many listings available on Condos.ca, particularly if you’re looking to rent in the Greater Toronto Area. The map view makes searching for listings easy and it’s fairly simple to inquire & apply to properties you’re interested in, but the lack of a built-in chat can make communication difficult.
PadMapper
PadMapper is another popular option in Canada due to its easy-to-use map view for easy browsing, as well as a variety of built-in search features. The site is fairly bare-bones in terms of appearance and features, but works quite well and is simple to use for what it does.
PadMapper lets renters browse with ease thanks to an interactive map and various filters. As far as communications, PadMapper allows tenants to send messages with their phone number and email address to get in touch with landlords. The platform doesn’t mention any specific security or verification processes, though it does require a precise address to post a listing.
Kijiji
Kijiji is a marketplace site that doubles as a popular place for landlords and renters to post and find rental listings. The platform offers a basic suite of listing features including plenty of fields and filters for filling out specific details and room for lots of photos.
Kijiji is a good basic option for browsing and applying for listings, though it lacks many features that renters may look for. The site does allow for messaging within the platform which makes for much easier communication. Unfortunately, Kijiji doesn’t have much in the way of security features and provides little protection against scams.
Facebook Groups and Marketplace
Facebook Groups and even Marketplace are great ways to find apartments and houses for rent in Canada. Though renters and landlords should exercise caution when using the platform due to the potential for fraudulent posts and users, there are plenty of local, moderated groups that allow for easy browsing and the ability to get in touch over Facebook Messenger.
Facebook is an extremely popular place for renters to browse apartments thanks to the volume of posts, though this is also its greatest downfall. Because Facebook has never claimed to be a rental platform, the site has few checks in place for screening out scams, although many moderated groups provide a safer alternative.
Rentals.ca
Rentals.ca is another popular place to find and rent apartments, houses, and condos, and offers a user-friendly layout as well as excellent search capabilities, and an interactive map.
Rentals.ca is a great option for renters primarily because of the number of listings available. Since it’s such a popular platform, there are plenty of rentals to choose from and the site makes it easy to navigate them thanks to a split-screen map/photo view and lots of different search filters.
Craigslist
If you’ve ever rented in Canada, you’re likely already familiar with Craigslist. The marketplace site has long been the go-to place to post and find rental listings, as well as a variety of other goods & services, due to its pared-down appeal and ease of use. Though it may come out on top in terms of the number of listings available, the site lacks many of the security features renters and landlords should look for in a rental platform.
Renters can easily browse the site using a good selection of filters. For applications, Craigslist lists landlords’ email addresses and/or phone numbers for renters to get in touch. Do use caution when applying to rentals on Craigslist though – since there’s little in the way of verification, it’s not uncommon to come across rental scams on the site.
4rent.ca
4rent.ca is a rental listing website that’s popular across Canada and offers both attractive listing pages and organisational tools for landlords. However, it does fall short in other categories, notably, it does not have an app or a chat feature, which can allow for instant communication between landlords and tenants.
4rent has listings in cities & towns across Canada and is easy for renters to navigate thanks to convenient drop-down filters and a map view for navigating listings. There’s even a ‘create alert’ option for hands-off browsing and you can submit inquiries directly using a built-in form.
Realtor.ca
Realtor.ca is another top website for finding apartments and houses for rent in Canada in terms of popularity. Having an app is handy for when you’re on the go and about to spend a day viewing listings. However, without digital contracts and rent payments, it’s still a bit old-school and may prefer to save paper in the rental process.
Despite being used primarily for real estate sales, Realtor.ca is also a popular and easy-to-use website for finding rentals. Since the majority of the rental properties on this platform are posted by licensed real estate agents on behalf of their owners, tenants have a bit more security than with other options.
How To Secure Accommodation In Canada
Prepare Necessary Documents
-Proof of Identity – Passport or other identification documents.
– Proof of Income – Bank statements, employment contract, or proof of financial support.
– References – Past landlord references or character references.
– Visa or Residency Status – Some landlords may request proof of your right to reside in the UK.
Viewing Properties
– Schedule viewings to inspect the property and assess if it meets your needs.
Application Process
– Application Form: Complete the rental application form provided by the landlord or letting agency.
– References: Provide references as requested.
Tenancy Agreement
– Review and sign the tenancy agreement. Ensure you understand the terms and conditions.
Deposit and Rent Payments:
– Pay the security deposit and initial rent as specified in the agreement.
Familiarize Yourself with Tenant Rights:
– Understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in Canada.
Maintain Good Communication:
– Keep open communication with your landlord or letting agency regarding any concerns or necessary repairs.
Remember, it’s crucial to be cautious and avoid scams. Always deal with reputable agents or landlords and never make payments without proper documentation. Seek legal advice if you have any doubts or concerns about the rental process.
