Finding a Property to Rent in Canada

A short guide to finding a place to short or long term let in Canada, giving new expatriates the time to find a property in Canada to buy

Whether you’re emigrating permanently to Canada or you’re moving to the nation on a fixed term contract, it can make a great deal of sense to rent a property before even considering purchasing a home.

At Shelter Offshore we always advise that expatriates consider renting a home before buying, no matter where in the world they are moving to, in part this is because it takes time to get to know a country well and therefore decide on where to live, and in part this is because you really need to try and test a nation before you can be 100% certain that it is right for you.

In this article we’ll look at finding a property to rent in Canada so that you can be well prepared for the process before you make the move, and perhaps have even found somewhere to live at least for the short-term before you get on the aeroplane!

It’s worth noting that Canada’s vacancy rates are exceptionally low in the main urban areas, and that it is thought the intensification of demand for rental accommodation could yet increase as the economy shrinks and the housing market begins to suffer in Canada, in much the same way as it has already in America and currently is in the UK.

Therefore, we suggest you look at your short-term rental options first.  There are a lot of apart-hotels and also normal hotels that offer apartments for longer term lets.  These are available in all the main cities, and you can usually negotiate very healthy reductions in rental rates if you call up the hotel directly and book in for a period of longer than just a week or two. 

Such a base is fantastic when you’ve just landed and you want some simple ‘home’ comforts such as a fully furnished yet private place to crash out.  The advantage with such units is that they come with house keeping, meaning you can forget about cleaning and get on with the real task of finding a longer term let.

The other alternative for the short-term is taking a tourism let if it is out of season.  You can often negotiate with the property owner and get a good discount if you sign up for a couple of months for example.  All this gives you the time you need to visit agents, scour the internet, get the local paper and put the word out that you need a house to rent.  It also gives your furniture the time it needs to arrive in Canada!

When it comes to finding the right longer-term let, you will need to think carefully about location.  You may need to be near a school, shops or your work place, you may prefer to be out in the sticks?  Draw up a list of criteria to take with you when you go and see any agents, but also keep an open mind because property in Canada is different to the UK, and you may view something you’d never dream of and discover that that is the right home for you.

You can consider wandering round locations you like and seeking out ‘for rent’ signs too – this works well if you don’t know all the local agents who might be listing homes.  There are strong tenant protection laws in place in Canada, which is the good news.  The bad news is that when you sign a lease – and ensure you’re happy with the wording of it and obligations of yours in it before you sign – you will have to pay up to 2 months rent in advance.  One will be for your first month’s accommodation, the other will be held as a security deposit.

And finally, when looking at a place to rent, get everything agreed up front.  Find out if your utilities will be connected or whether you will have to arrange that, find out about whether there is a phone line and cable TV.  Explain that you may need assistance sorting everything as you are new to Canada, and if you have a decent landlord they will accommodate you.  Finally, once you have your rental accommodation decided upon, think about signing a lease for at least 6 months to allow you the time you need to get on your feet and find a permanent home in Canada.