06.07.24

How to Rent an Apartment in Canada

Finding a good apartment in Canada can be both exciting and overwhelming because the rental market is quite competitive. It’s important to have a strategy for your search. We are going to guide you through the important steps of finding the best apartment, from finding a suitable result depending how much you can spend to knowing your rights as a renter.

 

Living Within Your Means

First, write the amount of money you take home after taxes monthly. Then, exclude all your expenses like food, transportation, utilities, phone bills, internet, and any loans you're paying off. Exclude monthly savings. We hope you make savings. Think about other costs too, like snacks, clothes, entertainment. Now you have a clear sum that you can spend on your renting.
 

Finding Your Perfect Location

Decide what matters most in this context. Do you want lots of nightlife or a quiet place for families, or to be close to work or school? Living close to work can be a great strategy, saving both time for transportation and money. Also, it is healthier to walk to your job.

The best way to get an idea about your future renting location is to go to that place. Also, you can look up neighborhoods online using inline maps, websites, forums, and local news sites to get a sense of what they're like. Many rental listings also offer virtual tours so you can see what the area is like without visiting, but it’s much better to go and see with your own eyes.

When you visit the place, walk around paying attention to noise levels from traffic. See what amenities are nearby, and how close essential services like stores are. Talk to people who live there too, like in cafes or shops.

 

Rental Web Listings

Check out our detailed guide on Top 5 Real Estate Websites for Renting for the best websites we could find where you can see actual listings.

Know Your Rights and Responsibilities

Essential Points

• Price
  Make sure you know exactly how much you need to pay, and ask if there are any extra charges. We don’t want any surprises, do we?
• Lease Term
  Understand how long you're agreeing to rent the place for. It could be for a set time or on a month-to-month basis. Also, know what happens if you want to stay longer or leave early. All this can be found or written in the renting contract.
• Permitted Uses
  Be aware of any rules about what you can do in the apartment, like if you can have pets, sublet to someone else, or change the way things are set up. 
• Maintenance and Repairs
  Ask who should be responsible when something has to be repaired or replaced.

Read Carefully and Keep Copies

When you get the lease agreement to sign, take a closer look at the wording of the agreement. Do not be careless. Read until you comprehend every single one of them.

You can ask for an explanation if there is anything that you do not understand. It’s also necessary to make a copy of the completed agreement after signing.

Be Thorough

• Check the place when it's light outside so you can see everything well and spot safety issues.
• See key things like where the plugs are, how strong the water pressure is, if the heating and cooling work, and how much storage space there is.
• Check for water damage, mold, broken appliances, or anything else that looks unsafe.
• Ask about noise levels, parking spots, laundry facilities, and if there are any planned repairs or renovations.
• Make a 5 minute video record of the property on your mobile phone with comments starting with the date of the record and the address. 

Go through every room, open and close cabinets, dresser drawers, while making a record. Store this video on your Google Drive or any other cloud service. In any far-fetched complaint from the landlord, the video would prove the actual condition of the property at the moment of the renting. 

 

Preparing Your Application

Gather all the papers you'll need, like pay stubs, a letter from your job saying how much you make, a credit report if they ask for it, and letters from past landlords saying you're a good tenant. Write a short letter about yourself to go with your application.

Say a bit about who you are, why you'd be a good tenant (like if you're responsible and keep things clean), and why you want that apartment. After you apply, it's okay to follow up politely if you don't get feedback after one day.

Bonus Tips. Making Your Apartment Cozy

Once you've got your perfect place, it's time to make it feel like home!

Furnishing

• You can check out second-hand stores, online marketplaces, and garage sales for affordable furniture finds.
• Learn to embrace flexibility in your furniture arrangement, for example, ottoman beds, or futons that work as couches and beds.

 

Arranging Furniture for Different Rooms

The best interior is the one that has enough space, lots of air. Also, it is easier to clean such a kind of property.

Living Room

• Focal Point
  Arrange furniture around what draws attention, like a fireplace, TV, or big window. Seats should face this focal point to make cozy conversation spots.
• Traffic Flow
  Keep enough space between furniture so you can move around easily in the room.
• Conversation Areas
  Put chairs and sofas together in groups to create places for chatting.

Bedroom

• Balance and Size
  Fit furniture in a way that matches how big the room is. Don't use furniture that's too big for a small bedroom.
• Functionality
  Put the bed where you can get to it from both sides easily. Arrange dressers and nightstands so they're handy for storing things.

Kitchen

• Kitchen Triangle
  Think of a triangle connecting the fridge, stove, and sink. Arrange them in a way that is easy to move between them while you cook.
• Counter Space
  Use counters smartly by placing appliances in good spots and using shelves on the walls for extra storage.

The last but not the least part is to have a Positive Landlord-Tenant Relationship

• Communicate openly and promptly with your landlord about any issues or concerns.
• Be a responsible tenant. Pay your rent and bills on time, keep the noise level reasonable, and respect the property. Keep all the bills in one safe place and send bill photos to your landlord right away.
• Kindly abide by the terms outlined in your lease agreement.

Conclusion

Renting an apartment in Canada doesn't have to stress you out. Once you've found your ideal apartment, start making it feel like home. With a little planning and considering tips that are gathered here, you'll soon be settling into a nice and cozy place. 

Enjoy your new place.

Read More: The Best Freelance Websites to Find a Job in 2025