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Participants Coming to Canada

Finding Accommodation In Canada

While you are searching for work, you also might want to consider where you would like to live in Canada. This section of the website can help you find your home away from home.

Accommodation Tips
Rental Glossary
Rental Agreements
Tenant Safety Checklist
Tenant Protection

Accommodation Tips

After finding work, you might want to live nearby or at least near a public transit station to make getting to work easier.

The following tips may help:

Look for “Free Rent” signs posted in windows or on front lawns, once you decide you like a particular area.
Check the “Classified” section of the local newspaper or a housing magazine for apartments you can afford.
Visit the housing bulletin boards at a local university or college. Sharing accommodation with Canadian students could be a great experience. During summer months, many university and college residences are made available for short-term tenants from May to August.
Check notice boards in public laundromats, health food or grocery stores in the area.
Landlords typically require a deposit to cover the last month’s rent. Always insist on a receipt for this deposit.

Rental Glossary

The following table contains common abbreviations found in classified ads for housing rentals:

Abbreviation	Meaning	Abbreviation	Meaning
appls	appliance	lrg or lge	large
apt	apartment	lux	luxury
avail	available	min	minutes
bach	bachelor (1 room with kitchen and bath)	mo	month
BR or br	bedroom	mod	modern
bsmt	basement	prof	professional
c/port	parking available	ref req	reference required
cable	cable television	reno	renovated
d/w	dishwasher	rm	room
equip	equipped	shr	share
evgs	evenings	spac	spacious
f/p	fireplace	ste	suite
flr	floor	studio	expensive bachelor
furn	furnished	sublet	rental from somebody who is already renting
h/w	hot water tank	unfurn	unfurnished
hwd flr	hardwood floors	+ util	extra cost for heat and electricity
immac	immaculate (clean)	w/d	washer and dryer
immed	immediately	1st and last	first and last months rent in advance
lndry	laundry facilities	hydro	electricity

Notes about Apartments:

Bachelor Apartment / Studio: Comprises one room with a kitchen area and a bathroom. In Quebec, these units are advertised as “1 1/2 or 2 1/2 bedroom”.

1 Bedroom Apartment: Comprises a living room, kitchen, bathroom and 1 bedroom. In Quebec, these units are advertised as “3 1/2 bedroom”.

2 Bedroom Apartment: Comprises a living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. In Quebec, these units are advertised as “4 1/2 bedroom”.

Rental Agreements

Keep the following in mind when you find accommodation in Canada that requires you to sign a lease (rental agreement):

Avoid signing a lease if possible. Some landlords will rent accommodations month-to-month.
Leases are legally binding contracts. Don’t sign a 1-year lease if you’re planning to live there for 6 months.
If your landlord insists on a lease, ask if you can sublet the unit when you leave.
The person who signs the lease is responsible for any payments owing (including compensation to the landlord for any damage caused to the unit as a result of your stay).
Make a list of existing damage to your unit before moving in and provide a copy to your landlord to avoid paying for damage not incurred by you when you move out.
You and your roommates should all sign the rental agreement so that you can also share in its responsibility.
Once signed, you and your landlord should each keep a copy of the lease.
Insist on receipts from your landlord for all cash deposits or rents paid.

Similar to any Canadian citizen, you are obliged to understand the implications and legal responsibilities of any rental agreement signed. Breaking the terms of any lease can have legal consequences.

Tenant Safety Checklist

Before you sign a rental agreement, make sure your new apartment is safe:

Does each room have a window? If accessible from the street, can these windows be locked?
Is there at least 1 smoke alarm and a fire escape route?
Is public transportation available nearby?
Does the neighbourhood feel safe - i.e. would you feel comfortable coming home alone in the dark?
Do all of the fixtures included in the rent work properly? Is the water coming from the faucet scalding hot or too cold? Do toilets flush properly?
Are mouse traps and cockroach bait evident - i.e. signs that you may be sharing your apartment with unwanted insects and/or rodents?

Tenant Protection

You are entitled to the same rights as Canadian citizens with respect to rental agreements. The government of the province in which you reside can intervene on your behalf if you believe you are being dealt with unfairly by your landlord. In such cases, use the website addresses below to contact the appropriate provincial ministry or department.