Each institute has its own policy for housing and may offer a range of options for single and married students. Most common types of accommodations are:

School-Provided Homestays: A homestay usually consists of a Canadian family hosting a student in their home while the student attends classes in Canada. This includes meals as well as a private, furnished room. (Cost: CDN $ 400 - $ 800 per month)

School-Provided Residence/Dormitory: Many schools have accommodation conveniently located on or near their campuses. There is usually an option of either shared or private room and dormitories. (Cost: CDN $ 3000 - $ 7500 per year)

Off Campus Housing: Usually many students share or rent apartments to save costs. Listings of available apartments or homes are published weekly in local newspapers. Rents vary greatly according to the location and time of year. (Cost: CDN $ 250 - $ 700 per month)

How do you find an apartment to rent?

Your main sources of information are the classified advertisements in local newspapers and what you hear from other people. Some agencies which advertise apartments may charge a fee. This does not mean they will find a home for you, but they may show you more of what is available. Be careful before you sign any type of contract.

Once you decide on a price range, size, and preferred location, you should be able to identify several possible apartments. Normally, you telephone for an appointment to see the apartments. Look for convenient parking, nearby bus routes, shopping, schools, and laundry facilities (washing machines) in or near the building.

Ask the landlord or the person renting the apartment what facilities are included in the rent, such as parking, whether or not you can keep a pet and how many people can live in the apartment. The landlord will hold the apartment for you after you pay a deposit (which will be applied to the rent) and you both sign an offer to rent the apartment.

What can you expect in a rented apartment?

Every apartment should have:

• its own door, which can be locked, to a common hallway or to the street;
• a kitchen with a sink and hot and cold water, countertop, shelves or cupboards and appliances such as a stove and a refrigerator;
• closets and storage space;
• a private bathroom with a sink, toilet and bath or shower.

Your apartment will be equipped with several essential utilities, including:

• a heating system;

• light and electricity;

• hot and cold water;

• telephone lines; and

• sewage pipes.

You should find out if the costs of electricity, gas, heat and water are included in the rent, or whether you will be charged directly by the utility companies.

Property taxes are paid by the landlord. You must pay the costs of telephone and cable television connection and the monthly bills for those services.

Furnished apartments should include beds, chairs, tables, floor covering, light fixtures, curtains, basic kitchen equipment in addition to utilities, a stove and a refrigerator.

What legal arrangements are involved in renting?

In many cities there is a standard rental agreement, or lease, that both you and your landlord sign. This is a printed document of one or two pages which specifies the number of rooms, utilities and options such as parking or storage space.

Read it carefully before signing. Be sure you understand which utilities you will pay, which will be paid by the landlord and what penalty you may have to pay if you leave before the lease is over. An immigrant-serving agency will be able to help you understand exactly what is expected of you.

The lease will most likely be for at least one year, and you will have to make an initial payment, possibly the first and last month’s rent. You may also be asked for a damage deposit, which will be returned to you when you leave if you have not caused any damage to the property beyond normal use. For this reason it is important to note any damage and tell your landlord before you move in.

How do you rent a house?

Renting a house is the same process as renting an apartment. There may be more appliances, such as a clothes washer and dryer. The tenant usually pays for utilities and heat.

Off-Campus Housing links