How to Find Student Housing in Canada
Canada's housing market is rough, so finding a place to live as an international student isn't easy. Here's how you can find a room to rent.
The housing market in Canada is constantly making headlines — there's just not enough apartments to meet rising demand. This has forced some students to resort to sleeping in tents because they can't find a place to live.
Don't let this happen to you! If you're considering Canada, spend some time looking at where you'll live. Many schools guarantee a place in residence for first-year students, which is great, but what happens in second year? (On this note, some students can become residence advisors and live on-campus rent-free. Something to consider if you're looking for more things to do at school!)
Here are some ways to find a place in Canada. Have other ideas? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @scholarshipsca or Instagram @scholarshipscanada!
Places4Students partners with colleges, universities, and landlords directly, to make finding off-campus student housing easier. They've got nearly 200 schools across North America under their umbrella, including 159 schools here in Canada.
You'll find property listings, roommate profiles, message boards, and advice for both tenants and landlords.
Check out their list of partner schools and see if the schools you're interested in work with Places4Students.
If you want a real estate professional working alongside you, you may have some luck with Realtor.ca. They've got thousands of listings across Canada, and while they're focused more on home ownership, you'll also find listings for apartments and room rentals.
Working with an actual realtor is another story. Realtors are real estate experts who take a commission for helping you find a home. When searching for an apartment or room to rent, you probably won't need to work with an actual realtor.
"Rent seeker" may be a disparaging term, but the site with the same name is all good. They've got a tool that lets you search by province and school, and serves map-based results to help you find a place to live. The listings contain lots of info, like amenities and features included with your rent.
Student.com is focused specifically on finding off-campus student housing, in Canada and abroad. This site's unique because you can even browse by private or shared rooms — so if your budget is tight, you may be able to share accommodations with another student (or three...).
Kijiji is Canada's online classified ads website, where regular people can post listings for all sorts of things — including rental options. With Kijiji, you can sort by long- or short-term rentals, and even search just for shared rooms if you're trying to keep costs low. Be wary of scams and offers that are too good to be true!
Facebook groups and marketplace
Of course, social media is a go-to spot. Many schools and cities will have their own student housing groups, which may be informally organized by students themselves to support one another. If you've got a Meta account (that is, Facebook or Instagram) you can browse for groups that fit your needs.
The Marketplace is a forum for users to buy and sell with one another. This can be a good way to find rental opportunities, too. Like any other online classified site, be careful of scams!
Telegram channels for international students
Telegram is a social messaging app that's caught on with international students looking for housing options. Much like a Facebook group, you can find a Telegram channel for students and see if anyone has advice or suggestions on where to live.
For example, here's a "Canada Dream" Telegram channel in Farsi with over 40,000 subscribers! You're sure to find many others if you go exploring.
Many students also use Telegram channels to find roommates or housemates: if you can find a group who's seeking a fellow housemate, you won't need to find an apartment yourself.
Of course, you should also touch base with your school's student resource centre. Many schools will have a housing office with links and recommendations to off-campus housing options in their area. Local landlords will often contact schools to let them know about availability, meaning your school may have connections that are hard to find otherwise.
Some experts at your school, or even as part of the student union or other local groups, may be able to help you review your potential lease, and help you decide if an offer is suspicious. Be sure to ask around for opinions and options.
Red flags to watch for
We mention being wary of scams; some landlords will try to take advantage of you. Here's some things to watch for:
- No clear pictures of the interior
- Landlord wants you to pay to view the place before renting
- Landlord wants personal info, like bank account or SIN details
- "Handshake deals" — be sure to get your lease in writing
- Don't deal only in cash! Landlords should expect a cheque or even e-transfer
Landlords can legally ask for first and last month's rent up-front, but ONLY when signing your lease! Don't pay a cent until you've signed a legal contract.
Canada's not building enough housing units to support population growth, and there's no real plan to do so, either. As an international student, you may find yourself alone and adrift, left to fend for yourself when it comes to finding a place to live. In general, smaller towns may have cheaper rent costs, but may also have fewer options overall.
The resources in this article will help you navigate the difficult housing market in Canada, but be aware: costs are high. There's a reason many international students end up with four or more people to a room, sleeping in shifts. This may be a worthwhile sacrifice for you as you build a new life in Canada, but you should be aware of the student housing crisis in Canada when you're making plans for your education.
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