Accommodation in Canada

Expats moving to Canada might find that the process of securing suitable, reasonably priced accommodation, can be lengthy and expensive. With the exception of Toronto, where a glut of recently-built condominium complexes means that there is a fair amount of housing options available throughout the city, expats frequently report that it can take some time to find a budget-friendly place to stay in Canada.

Renting Property in Canada

Expats are strongly advised to begin their search for a rental property in Canada long before actually arriving in the country. Staying in hotels while you finalise your own living arrangements can be an enormously costly exercise, and should be kept to an absolute minimum period of time. You should research the city you intend on moving to, trying to discover which areas offer the best range of housing options, at the best prices, and within a manageable proximity of public transportation. Trawling through online rental classifieds and real estate websites will give you an idea of what's available, and how much you should reasonably expect to budget for accommodation costs during your time abroad.
 

Once in Canada, print and online news publications are good places to continue your house-hunt – check the “For Rent” or “Rental Properties” sections of the classifieds. Moreover, in most cities there are free publications (such as Toronto's Rental News), dealing exclusively with rental advice and listings. It's a very good idea to go and view a few properties, to test the market out and to calibrate your expectations accordingly. Note that it's highly recommended to be on time and to dress well when going to view a property – treat it like a job interview, as the landlord's initial impression of you will go a long way toward determining the success or failure of your lease application.
 

If you find no joy in looking for accommodation on your own steam, real estate agents are another good resource. Since more than two-thirds of Canadians report owning their houses, and since many landlords don't want to bother with the hassle of finding their own tenants, often estate agents will have mandate over the best of the rental properties in a given city. Note that, as helpful as agents can be in helping you find a place to stay, they will exact a fee for this service – which can range from anywhere between 10 percent of the monthly rent, to a whole month's rent.
 

Expats – especially younger, or more adventurous ones – should also look into the option of house-sharing, a popular avenue for new immigrants to Canada. House-sharing, a legal form of sub-letting, where you rent an individual room in a larger house shared by other people, is not only a financially attractive option, but a great way to make new friends.
 

Lease agreements are very important in Canada, and are usually followed to the letter. Be sure to read your contract carefully, as once it's been signed, its conditions will be legally binding. The agreement will cover the following considerations: duration of the lease (usually 12 months);  additional financial responsibilities of the tenant (usually, water will be included in the rental charge, but you'll have to pay for gas and electricity); deposit (usually two month's rent, refundable in principle); and forfeiture conditions (to let you know that if you breach your contract in any way, you are liable to be evicted from the property).
 

Canada is a modern, highly industrialised and economically stable country, and the standard of accommodation is generally very high. Living quarters in Canada are generally more commodious than in Europe, and will certainly have some kind of heating system in place to ward off the worst of winter's chill. Home security is, simply, not an issue in Canada – it is a famously safe society, and as long as one exercises common sense, they are sure not to have a problem.

Buying Property in Canada

Expats are not only perfectly entitled to buy property in Canada – they are also bound to find the process surprisingly straightforward and hassle-free.
 

Canada's unique Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – a centralised database that contains about 95 percent of all properties on the market in Canada – means that much of the hard work involved with finding your ideal property can be done for you, by your estate agent. Simply go to your agent with a comprehensive list of requirements for your dream home (location, size, amenities, etc.), and they'll plug the information into the database, and provide you with a full list of possibilities.
 

Your estate agent's central role in helping you find your new Canadian home will not end there, either. They will assist you in liaising with the seller, and will accompany you to the house inspection (after which you'll receive a detailed report, chronicling the condition of the property).
 

If you are satisfied with the house, your estate agent will then recommend a good estate lawyer to oversee the transaction, and will help you to make sure your affairs are in order, and that you have all the necessary paperwork ready, when it comes time to go into the bank and pay for your new home.