(1) Looking for rental accommodation is a task which can be daunting for a newcomer to Canada, especially if you are not familiar with local neighbourhoods, rental costs and types of housing available. It is important to choose your new place carefully, since housing, particularly in Ontario, will be one of your largest monthly expenses. There are several major steps involved in looking for a place to rent. The process of searching for rental houses and apartments is not easy, but it will be less stressful if you follow the steps outlined below.
(2) The first thing to do is to conduct some research in the neighbourhood where you would like to live. An important consideration for both amenities and day-to-day activities is location. In Canadian cities, it is usually difficult to find a place that is within easy walking distance of work or shopping, so you may need to compromise and live a little further away from these places than you would like. Examples of important amenities in one’s neighbourhood include shopping, medical and dental services, a fire department, recreational facilities and parks. For carrying out your day-to-day activities, you might want to consider living in a neighbourhood that is close to public transportation, schools and places of worship.
(3) The next step is to consider the cost of your rental accommodation. Location is usually the main factor in determining how expensive a rental accommodation is. In particular, a desirable location generally commands high rent. You need to find out whether or not utilities (heating and hydro) are included in your monthly rent, and if they are not included, how much extra you will have to pay for them. In Ontario, the monthly cost of most high-rise rental apartments includes everything except parking, telephone and cable service.
(4) Finally, you must consider the type of housing you wish to rent. Depending on the size of your family and your living requirements, you need to know what the most common types of house and apartment dwellings available in Canada are. If you want to live in a house, for instance, you can rent a basement apartment, a detached house, a semi-detached (duplex) house or a room in a rooming house. If you prefer to live in an apartment building, you can rent an apartment in a walk-up (usually up to four storeys) building or in a high-rise building.
(5) Finding rental accommodation that suits you and your family’s needs can be a challenge. However, if you conduct your search carefully, it will yield rewarding results once you find a place to live in a neighbourhood that makes you feel comfortable. Then you can focus on settling into your community.