How to rent house in Canada? For international students and newcomers who will come to Canada or just landed, it is important to find a house to settle down.
In this article, Create Career College will share valuable information and tips to help international students and newcomers to find and rent a house in Canada. You will understand how to rent a house in Canada, what is rent in Canada now, what are the popular rental app and rental sites, and what will the rental process look like.
Create Career College is located in Burnaby, Vancouver. The school’s 2-year professional diploma program allows students to take classes online remotely. All the 2-year diploma programs consist of a 1-year academic learning and a 1-year Co-op. Students can reside and complete the online lessons and co-op anywhere in Canada, meaning that they are not required to settle in Vancouver.
For students who are new to Canada, it could be very difficult for them to go through the rental process. The CCC Admissions Department will introduce in detail the choice of housing types for students ranging from singles to families, as well as rent negotiation, deposits, and application procedures. After that, students can understand what to expect before renting a house.
Create Career College’s 2-year Diploma program is not only suitable for Hong Kong students to meet the Stream A requirements, but is also a great program for international students. All the students can choose to settle in other cities rather than Vancouver, which is actually an excellent way to save on the cost of studying.
Take our graduate Christine as an example. She studied CCC’s 2-year Diploma program in Hospitality Management. In the first year of academic lessons, she took online classes in Hong Kong for the first half of the year and continued to complete the remaining online classes in London, Ontario, Canada in the second half of the year.
For the co-op program in the second year, she successfully found a job and fulfilled the graduation requirements of the diploma course in London. So she could graduate on time and has submitted the Application for Permanent Residence. During the 2-year course, she did not live in big cities such as Vancouver and Toronto for a long time, saving a considerable amount of rental costs.
Table of Contents
Types of Houses in Canada
There are many different types of houses in Canada. They reflect different architectural styles, regional preferences, and historical influences. Before rent house in Canada, you can understand some common types of houses found in Canada.
- Single-Family Detached Houses: These are standalone houses typically built on their own lots. A detached house refers to a standalone residential structure that is designed to be occupied by a single household or family. It is a type of housing where the structure is not attached to any other buildings and is surrounded by open space on all sides, typically including a yard or garden.
- Townhouses: Townhouses or row houses, are attached dwellings that share side walls with neighboring units. They are often arranged in rows and offer multiple floors of living space.
- Apartments/Condominiums: Apartments or condos are multi-unit buildings where individual units are owned or rented. They are common in urban areas and can range from low-rise to high-rise buildings. Both offer amenities such as fitness centers, pools, and shared common areas. They are a popular choice for those seeking a low-maintenance lifestyle.
- Basement/Semi-Basement Apartments: In many Canadian cities, particularly in urban areas, basements or semi-basements of houses are often converted into separate rental units or apartments. These units are located below the main level of the house and typically have their own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and living space. Basement or semi-basement apartments are a more affordable housing option for renters, especially in areas with high rental costs.
- Bungalows/Cottages: Bungalows and cottages are single-story houses that are usually found in suburban and rural areas. Bungalows are often characterized by their accessible design, featuring all necessary living spaces on one floor. Cottages are typically smaller and cozy houses often located near lakes, rivers, or in rural settings.
Rent in Canada
International students always choose popular and vibrant cities like Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary to hang a hat. Create Career College summarizes the latest rent price in Canada, including the above-mentioned cities.
First, let’s look at the rent in Greater Vancouver where Create Career College is located.
Greater Vancouver | Rent per Month: Apartment (1 bedroom, in CAD) | Rent per Month: Apartment (3 bedrooms, in CAD) |
Vancouver | $2,500 | $4,500 |
Burnaby | $2,200 | $4,200 |
Richmond | $1,900 | $5,100 |
Coquitlam | $1,800 | $3,500 |
New Westminster | $1,800 | $3,100 |
Surrey | $1,600 | $3,200 |
North Vancouver | $2,000 | $4,400 |
Langley | $1,600 | $2,900 |
Below shows the average rent in Greater Toronto Area.
Greater Toronto Area | Rent per Month: Apartment (1 bedroom, in CAD) | Rent per Month: Apartment (3 bedrooms, in CAD) |
Toronto | $2,500 | $4,000 |
Markham | $2,100 | $3,700 |
Richmond Hill | $2,000 | $2,900 |
Vaughan | $2,300 | $4,300 |
Mississauga | $2,300 | $3,200 |
Brampton | $1,900 | $3,000 |
Oshawa | $1,600 | $2,700 |
Below shows the average rent of other areas in Canada.
Other Areas in Canada | Rent per Month: Apartment (1 bedroom, in CAD) | Rent per Month: Apartment (3 bedrooms, in CAD) |
Victoria | $2,100 | $3,900 |
Calgary | $1,700 | $2,800 |
Edmonton | $1,300 | $2,100 |
Ottawa | $1,800 | $2,900 |
Winnipeg | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Halifax | $1,700 | $2,800 |
Rental Sites in Canada
No matter what type of housing or rental options international students are looking for, they can filter their favorites through online rental sites or rental app. Rent house in Canada is easy through online rental platforms. The following are some of the commonly used Canadian rental sites in Metro Vancouver.
English Platforms：
- Homadorma
- Craigslist
- Facebook Groups
- Kijiji
- Liv.rent
- Rentals.ca
- Realtor.com
- Zillow
- Zumper
Chinese Platforms：
- 溫哥華天空 Vansky
- 人在溫哥華 Vanpeople
- 51找房 51.ca
- 房大師 RealMaster
Rental Process
Whether you are renting a house in Vancouver, Toronto, or Calgary, the process of renting a house is roughly the same. The following is the process of renting a house in Canada:
- Find a house through the rental platforms.
- Make an appointment with the landlord/broker to visit the property. You can contact the landlord to visit the house according to the contact information provided by the landlord. Generally, you can contact the landlord directly through email, SMS, or phone call. The brokerage fee will be paid by the landlord after the rental procedure is completed.
- Apply for listings. Applicants can negotiate lease terms or contract details with landlords.
- If both the tenant and the landlord are satisfied with the lease terms, the tenant can check the property, sign the contract, and pay the deposit.
- Get ready to move in.
Rent Deposit & Materials Needed
Taking British Columbia as an example, most landlords will charge half a month’s rent as a deposit. At the end of the tenancy, if the property needs a deep cleaning, or if any items are damaged, the cost will be deducted from the deposit. When renting a house, the landlord may require the tenant to provide the following documents for basic background checks:
- Employment/Income Proof
- Proof of identification (passport, ID, driver’s license, etc. Do not provide a SIN!)
- Credit report (Equifax/TransUnion)
- Referee (Reference Letter)
Rent House in Canada Tips
As an international student who has just arrived in Canada, you should pay attention to the rental terms and conditions listed on the contract. Please see the below tips shared by CCC for newcomers.
- Girls are suggested to visit the listing with others.
- Do not pay deposits until you have confirmed the reliability of the listing.
- If there is anything unclear during the listing visit, do not hesitate to ask the landlord.
- During the house listing process, you must also pay attention to the environment and facilities around the listing. The situation can be different between day and night.
- Confirm whether the deposit and the rent include water, electricity, natural gas, furniture, heater, air conditioner, and other facilities.
- Confirm whether you need to purchase tenant insurance, whether you are able to keep pets, how to do garbage recycling, etc.
- Confirm the terms and conditions of the lease contract, such as the terms of the rent increase.
- Before moving in, check the facility conditions and take pictures to record the damaged areas for the landlord to fix and repair.
How to Increase the Chances of Successful Rental Application?
Here are some practical tips and advice from Create Career College to increase your chances of success with your rental application.
- Prepare documents in advance: Before starting your rental search, prepare the required documents such as personal documents, credit reports, proof of employment, bank statements, etc. This allows you to provide quick responses to landlord or real estate agent’s requests.
- Maintain a good credit history: A good credit history is one of the important factors for landlords to choose tenants. Making sure you pay your rent on time and avoid late payments. It will help improve your credit score.
- Provide proof of credit: If you have rented houses before, provide references or contact details from previous landlords to demonstrate that you are a reliable and responsible tenant.
- Provide proof of stable income: Provide documents such as employment contracts, pay stubs, bank statements, etc., to prove that you have enough income to pay the rent.
- Have a personal introduction and recommendation letter: Write a personal introduction, introduce your background, work and interests, etc., and attach a recommendation letter or contact information of the referee. This helps to give the landlord a better understanding and impression of you.
- Provide a guarantor: If your credit history is not ideal or your income is unstable, provide a reliable guarantor to increase your application success rate.
- Maintain good communication and professionalism: Be polite, professional and positive when communicating with your landlord or real estate agent. Respond promptly, express interest of the listing and commitment to honor the lease.
- Find the right time to rent a house: According to the local rental market conditions, find a suitable time to apply for a house to rent. Some areas may have less demand and less competition during certain seasons, which can increase your chances to rent a house successfully.
- Build a good relationship with your landlord.
