Renting Your First Apartment in Canada

Before you start looking

• Set a budget. A common guideline is to keep rent at or below about 30% of your gross income, though that can be hard in the biggest cities.
• Decide what matters. Think about distance to transit, number of bedrooms, and whether heat, electricity, water and internet are included.
• Prepare your documents. Landlords commonly ask for a rental application, photo ID, proof of income and references.

If you're new, you may not have Canadian references or a credit history yet. You can offer a job offer letter or recent pay stubs, proof of savings, a reference from an employer or a previous landlord abroad, or a co-signer. What a landlord is allowed to ask for varies by province.

Your rental application

Popular listings can get many applications within hours, so having everything ready helps. A strong application usually includes:

• A completed application form and your photo ID
• Proof of income: recent pay stubs or an employment letter. If you haven't started work yet, a job offer letter or bank statements showing your savings can help.
• References from an employer, a previous landlord or someone who knows you well
• Sometimes a credit report. Newcomers often don't have one yet, so be upfront and explain you've just arrived.

Where to look

Popular places to search include Rentals.ca, Zumper, Kijiji and local community groups, and many larger buildings advertise on their own websites. Whatever you use, try to see the place in person or on a live video call before you send any money.

What to check at a viewing

A viewing is your chance to spot problems before you sign. Take your phone, take photos and don't feel rushed.

• Do the heating, hot water, taps, appliances, windows and locks all work?
• Are there signs of mould, pests, leaks or damp?
• Are there working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?
• How is the noise, the mobile signal and the internet availability?
• Which utilities are included, and who pays for the rest?
• Is laundry in the unit, in the building or off-site?

It's also fine to ask questions: why the current tenant is leaving, how long the landlord has owned the building, and whether any renovations or a sale are planned.

Understanding the lease

A lease is a legal agreement between you and your landlord. It's usually either fixed-term (often 12 months) or month-to-month. In Ontario, for example, most landlords must use the province's standard lease form. Before you sign, check:

• The rent amount, due date and how you're expected to pay
• What's included: heat, electricity, water, internet and parking
• How long the lease lasts and what happens when it ends
• Rules on pets, smoking, guests and subletting
• How and when your landlord can enter your home, which generally requires written notice
• How rent increases work in your province

Deposits and upfront costs

Rules about deposits are set by each province. The examples below show how different they can be, so check the current rules where you live.

Your rights as a tenant

Tenant rights are set by provincial law, and a lease can't take them away. Each province has a body that deals with disputes, for example the Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario, the Residential Tenancy Branch in British Columbia and the Tribunal administratif du logement in Quebec.

When your lease ends

What happens at the end of a fixed-term lease depends on your province. In some a lease automatically continues month to month; in others you may be asked to sign a new one. Either way, if you plan to move out, give your landlord written notice within the notice period your province requires, and keep a copy.

Don't forget tenant insurance

Many landlords require it, and it's worthwhile even if yours doesn't. It typically covers your belongings and your liability for a few dollars a week. Read more in Tenant Insurance: What It Covers and Why Landlords Ask.