About Life in Canada

Housing Options in Canada

In Canada, you’ll find a wide variety of housing options, whether you choose to rent your accommodation or buy a home here.

Many people choose to start out renting a place to live until they are financially secure and have decided on a neighbourhood they wish to settle in. But it is also possible to buy a home when you first move to Canada.

Prices, both for renting and buying, differ dramatically depending on where you live, the size of the home and the services. Generally, you can expect to spend approximately 35% of your income for shelter costs (housing and utilities).

Here are some ideas about what to expect when it comes to housing in Canada and how to find accommodations. Information about renting is followed by information about buying a home.

Temporary Housing Options

Unless you have already arranged permanent accommodation, you will need somewhere to stay when you first arrive. Your options might include:

• A hotel room
• The home of family or friends who already live here
• A host or sponsor who has volunteered to house newcomers

The advantage of staying with others is that they can help you learn about life in Canada while you find a place of your own.

Bear in mind that it can take up to a couple of months from the time you begin your search to the time you can move into a rental unit.

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Types of Housing

When you’re looking for a place to live, you may come across types of housing and terms that you aren’t familiar with. Here’s an explanation.

• Apartments — An apartment is a self-contained, single-family unit in a building or house. Most apartments have one, two or three bedrooms; “bachelor” units have a combined living area that also serves as a bedroom.
• Condominiums — These are apartments or townhouses in which the units are owned by individuals. While the owners often occupy their condominium, they may rent it out.
• Duplexes or triplexes — A house that is divided into two units is a duplex. Divided into three, it’s a triplex. Often, the owner of the house will live in one unit and rent out the others.
• Townhouses (row houses) — Three or more units are built side-by-side and share adjoining walls. Townhouses may also be “stacked,” which means that the top two floors will consist of a separate unit from the bottom two floors.
• Rooms — Large homes are sometimes divided into several private bedrooms that are rented to individuals, with a common, shared kitchen and bathroom.

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Renting an Apartment

Apartments are the most common type of housing. There are certain basic requirements that each unit will have:

• Its own bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower or bath, with hot and cold running water
• Its own kitchen area with hot and cold running water, shelves or cupboards, a refrigerator and a stove or cook top
• An entry door with a lock

The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Canada in 2005 was $731 per month†. This ranged from a low of $472 in Saguenay, Quebec, to a high of $1,052 in Toronto, Ontario.

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When You Find an Apartment

The landlord may ask you to complete a form asking for personal information, and may ask permission to do a credit check.

Although you will pay rent by the month, you will usually be asked to sign a legal contract, called a lease, which is a commitment to stay for one year.

You will need to pay for the first month, in advance, and to prepay for your final month, even though that may be years in the future. You may also be asked for a security deposit.

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Looking for a Place to Live

There are many places to search for housing, either before and after you arrive:

• In newspapers
• On websites such as craigslist
• By walking or driving around the neighbourhood where you would like to live. Many landlords put a “For Rent” sign on their property
• If you are coming to Canada to study, your college or university will probably be able to provide help in locating affordable housing that’s close to campus
• If you are moving to a job here, your new employer may be able to help you find accommodation

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Buying a Home

Houses in Canada can be expensive to buy. The average price for a residential home in 2007 was almost $300,000.

Few people can afford to buy their home outright. Instead, they make a down payment and borrow the balance from a bank or other lender. The loan, called a mortgage, is paid off over a number of years, usually on a monthly basis.

While the monthly costs of home ownership may be higher than renting, most Canadians see owning a home as a major goal. Buying a home has the following advantages:

• The money you would normally pay in rent goes instead into a property that you own
• Buying a home often provides more space than living in an apartment, and may also provide an outdoor area
• Owning your home gives you the freedom to decorate as you wish and to make renovations to suit your needs
• It can be a good investment. The value of your home is likely to rise over time
• Home ownership can be an important source of pride

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Searching for a Home

Once they decide to purchase a home, most Canadians engage the services of a licensed real estate agent or broker. This is a professional who will help them find a home that meets their needs, and then assist with the formal process of making an offer to purchase the property. Agents and brokers work for a commission based on the selling price of the home; buyers do not pay any fees for their services.

There are also many websites where you can search for property in a region or neighbourhood. These can provide an idea of what is available in your price range. A great place to start is at the RBC website Finding Your Home. Here you can use an online tool to help you compare home prices and the cost of living in different communities across Canada. You’ll also find valuable tips on moving, settling into your new home, Canada’s cultural communities and much more.

	The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has information for renters on its website. You can also call their toll-free number: 1-800-668-2642.
	Citizenship and Immigration Canada has more information about finding a place to live.
	Check to see if the city or province where you will live has a tenants’ association.
	Visit the Canadian Real Estate Association for house prices in cities across Canada.
	The Multiple Listing Service site lets you search in a specific neighbourhood in Canada to find a home in your price range.

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Sources:

† Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

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