10. How to Find Long-Term Rental in Canada?
episode
Welcome to Canada! Your Ultimate Guide to Moving to Canada: Immigration, Budgeting, Jobs, Housing, Healthcare, Studies & More.
10 min
1 speaker
7 chapters
transcribed 1 month ago
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How does the host introduce the challenge of finding long-term rentals in Canada?
Welcome to Canada, the podcast that helps you prepare for your Canadian adventure with clarity and confidence.
Hello future newcomers and welcome to your Canadian PrepZone. You're listening to episode number 10 and it is recorded in August 2025. I'm Emma Charlin, your host and your international mobility coach. I'm here to help you prepare, plan and thrive in your move to Canada. Today I'll speak to you about finding accommodation in Canada. I will not be talking about finding temporary housing, but rather long-term rental housing. Housing is a major concern for immigrants.
What self-assessment should you do before starting your rental search?
In many Canadian cities, the occupancy rate of the housing stock is so high and the renewal rate is so low that finding a place to rent can be a daunting task. Thankfully, with the right resources, it is possible to succeed. Before you start looking for a place to live in Canada, I suggest a little introspection. What cities and neighborhoods do you want to live in? What type of housing are you considering? And most importantly, what is the maximum amount of money you're willing to pay? Do the math and set a max amount because if you spend all your money on rent, you won't have much leftover for fun. Once you have your roadmap in place, all you have to do is find a place to rent.
Which online platforms and agencies are best for finding rentals across Canada and Quebec?
But how do you do that? By knocking on different doors. I recommend going to realtor.ca and centris.ca. Realtor is the go-to site for your real estate search in Canada outside of Quebec. Centris is its Quebec counterpart. In addition to these platforms, you can also visit Virbo, Padmapper or Zumper for the Anglophone Canada or Duproprio and Loué.ca for the Francophone Canada. You can use real estate agencies such as REMAX, Royal Le Page, Century 21, Sutton Group or EXP Realty. If the big players have not come up with anything, knock on the doors of private individuals. KTG, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace sites sometimes have interesting listings. You can also contact your local immigration office as they are helping newcomers to settle in.
Check out Canada.ca or Compass to connect. Finally, take a walk around the neighborhoods and look for for rent signs.
How can you find off-market rentals by contacting individuals and local services?
You can find them in front of windows, grocery stores, laundromats, and community centers. In Toronto, for example, you can knock on the caretaker's door and ask if there are any apartments available. This solution is time-consuming, I know, but it allows you to view properties that are sometimes not yet on the market. By now, you know where to do your research. Let's talk about when. When to start your research. Begin your research 3 to 4 months before you leave and study the market. Build a database noting prices, square footage, number of rooms and services that are included. When you find that rare gem, make sure there are no hidden surprises. Have a relative or real estate agent show you the property or even make a trip down there.
Most leases in Canada are for one year, whether you live in the accommodation or not. With a monthly rent of 2,500 Canadian dollars, that adds up to 30,000 dollars a year. It is worth making sure everything is in order, don't you think? It is possible to find accommodation before leaving for Canada, but I want to stress that it is not easy. Let me give you a concrete example, my own. My husband and I started looking for housing in May with an arrival date in August.
When should you start searching and what timeline worked for the host’s personal house-hunt?
We had a scouting trip in June and asked a realtor agent to help us. We visited several properties, but to no success. A week before we left for Canada, our real estate agent visited a property, sent us pictures, and then in less than one hour, we made our decision without even physically visiting the property. I don't recommend taking that kind of risk, but it worked for us. And now, a word from our sponsor. Hey, but there is none. Oh yeah, that's right. I'm the sponsor of the show right now. Today's episode is brought to you by my one-on-one coaching services. Thinking about immigrating to Canada but feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled in too many directions? You're not alone.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
How does the host introduce the challenge of finding long-term rentals in Canada?
0:10–1:05
2
What self-assessment should you do before starting your rental search?
1:05–1:56
3
Which online platforms and agencies are best for finding rentals across Canada and Quebec?
1:56–3:13
4
How can you find off-market rentals by contacting individuals and local services?
3:13–4:49
5
When should you start searching and what timeline worked for the host’s personal house-hunt?
4:49–7:06
6
What documents, financial proofs and challenges (pets, Quebec calendar) affect your chances of renting?
7:06–9:30
7
What are the three key takeaways about research, agent help, and saving money for renting in Canada?
9:30–10:26
Speakers
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