Finding Housing in Canada as a Newcomer
Rents vary widely by city, so check current listings for the neighbourhood you want. Search several listing sites, view the unit in person before you pay, and expect the landlord to ask for a deposit: in Ontario, that is first and last month's rent. Each province sets its own tenancy rules.
How much is rent in Canada's big cities?
Canadian rents vary widely by city. The figures below are CMHC average monthly rents from its 2025 Rental Market Survey, for purpose-built rentals of three units or more. CMHC's average two-bedroom rent rose from 2024 to 2025 in both Toronto and Vancouver.
Averages include units already rented, so new listings often cost more.
| City | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, BC | $1,807 | $2,364 |
| Toronto, ON | $1,761 | $2,045 |
| Calgary, AB | $1,581 | $1,908 |
| Ottawa, ON (Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario part) | $1,593 | $1,916 |
| Montreal, QC | $1,131 | $1,346 |
| Edmonton, AB | $1,301 | $1,598 |
| Halifax, NS | $1,539 | $1,828 |
| Winnipeg, MB | $1,232 | $1,570 |
Where do you search, and how do you spot a scam?
Canada does not have one dominant rental platform. Many newcomers use a combination of these kinds of source:
- Rental listing sites, with listings from property management companies and individual landlords.
- Classified ad sites and social media marketplaces, where individual landlords post basement suites, shared housing and rooms. Scammers post there too.
- Property management companies, which may list vacancies on their own websites or on a sign at the building.
- Word of mouth: employers, schools and community groups sometimes hear of vacancies.
Newcomers to Canada are frequently targeted by rental fraud. Know these red flags:
- Wire transfer, e-transfer or cryptocurrency payment required. No legitimate landlord requires irreversible payment methods before you have signed a lease and viewed the unit in person.
- A listing price far below market rate, posted to generate urgency.
- A landlord who is overseas, cannot show you the unit in person and asks you to accept keys by mail after payment.
- Pressure to decide immediately, a tactic to prevent you from doing due diligence.
- A deposit asked before a signed lease. Where your province allows a deposit, pay it only after you have a lease in hand.
- Photos that look too good or are stock images, often stolen from legitimate listings or stock photo sites.
If you suspect a scam or have lost money, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police.
How does a Canadian lease work?
Canadian leases (rental agreements) are governed by provincial tenancy legislation, not federal law.
- Fixed-term lease (often 1 year)
- Many first leases are for one year. In Ontario, when the fixed term ends the tenant has the right to stay as a monthly tenant: the end of the agreement does not mean the tenant has to move out or sign a renewal. Other provinces set their own rules.
- Month-to-month tenancy
- After the fixed term ends, an Ontario tenancy continues month to month. The landlord cannot unilaterally change the rent except as the provincial rent increase rules allow.
- Standard lease forms
- For most tenancy agreements first entered into on or after April 30, 2018, Ontario landlords must use the Residential Tenancy Agreement (Standard Form of Lease). If the landlord does not provide it, the tenant can demand it, and the landlord must give the tenant a copy of any written lease within 21 days after the tenant signs it.
- Notice to end tenancy
- In Ontario, a tenant must give at least 60 days' notice to end a monthly tenancy, ending at the end of a rental period, or at least 60 days' notice ending no earlier than the last day of a fixed-term lease.
The rule
In Ontario, the rent deposit cannot exceed one month's rent (or one rental period) and is applied to your last month, not damage.
Who protects tenants, and how much can rent rise?
Each province has a tribunal or board that resolves disputes between landlords and tenants.
| Province | Tribunal or board | Rent increases and deposits |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) | The rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. A unit not occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018 may be exempt from it. Rent can rise once at least 12 months have passed, with at least 90 days' written notice (Form N1, N2 or N3). |
| British Columbia | Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) | The maximum allowable rent increase for 2026 is 2.3% (2.2% for 2027, and 3% in 2025). Landlords must give at least 3 full months' notice and can raise rent only once in any 12-month period. |
| Alberta | Alberta Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) | Alberta sets no limit on the amount of a rent increase. Rent can rise only once a year (365 days) has passed since the last increase or the start of the tenancy, never during a fixed term, and a month-to-month tenancy needs 3 full tenancy months' written notice. |
| Quebec | Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) | At lease renewal, a landlord may ask for a rent increase, and the tenant can accept or refuse it within one month. Without agreement, the landlord can apply to the TAL, which fixes the rent under the Regulation respecting the criteria for the fixing of rent. A landlord cannot take a deposit or rent in advance for more than the first payment period (Civil Code art. 1904). |
What if you have no Canadian credit history?
The biggest hurdle for newcomers is having no Canadian credit history.
Many landlords in Canada ask for a credit check. Canadian credit bureaus only collect information about credit activity in Canada, though some lenders may look at a credit history from another country.
Approaches that help:
- A credit report from your home country, which some landlords will consider.
- An offer letter, employment contract or employer letter showing your income. In Ontario, a landlord who asks for income information must consider it together with any rental history, credit references and credit checks available.
- Canadian or international bank statements showing your savings.
- A co-signer: a Canadian citizen or PR with good credit can co-sign your lease, and the co-signer is equally liable. In Ontario, a landlord may ask for a guarantor only if it has the same requirement for all tenants.
- Several months of prepaid rent, which some landlords accept in lieu of credit history. Rules differ, so check your province's rules first.
- Furnished apartments, corporate housing and short-term rentals, which may have less stringent credit requirements and give you time to establish Canadian credit.
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What do people ask?
How do I find an apartment in Canada?
Search several listing sites at once: no single platform covers the whole market. Filter by neighbourhood and transit, then book in-person viewings. Send money only after you have seen the unit and signed a lease, because newcomers are frequent targets of rental scams.
How do I apply for a rental in Canada?
Many landlords ask for a rental application, ID, proof of income such as a job letter or pay stubs, and consent to a credit check. Newcomers without Canadian credit can add bank statements, a foreign credit report, references from past landlords, or a co-signer. Once approved, you sign the lease and pay any deposit your province allows: in Ontario, first and last month's rent.
How much should I budget for housing in Canada?
CMHC counts housing as affordable when it costs less than 30% of before-tax household income, so use that as a target for rent and utilities. Rents differ widely by city: CMHC's 2025 average rents in Montreal, Edmonton and Winnipeg are below those in Toronto and Vancouver. Budget for any deposit your province allows, moving costs and tenant insurance. The Cost of Living by Province guide compares rents and other costs city by city.
What is first and last month's rent?
In Ontario, it is what a landlord may ask for before you move in: the first month's rent plus a rent deposit held for your final month. The deposit pays your last month when you leave, not damage, and cannot exceed one month's rent. Other provinces set their own rules: British Columbia's describe a security deposit of up to half a month's rent, and Quebec does not allow a deposit. Ontario's Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act, listed in the sources below, explains the rule.
Can a landlord reject me because I have no Canadian credit history?
A credit check is the landlord's choice. In Ontario, the Human Rights Commission says landlords may ask for credit checks, but a lack of rental or credit history should not be viewed negatively, and income must be weighed with other information. The OHRC lists protected grounds such as place of origin, citizenship (including refugee status), ethnic background, religion, sex, family status, disability and receipt of public assistance; other provinces have their own human rights codes. Offer bank statements, a job letter or a co-signer to show you can pay. The Renting With No Credit History guide explains each option.
Is there rent control in Canada?
It depends on the province. Ontario's rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026; a unit not occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018 may be exempt. British Columbia's maximum increase for 2026 is 2.3%. In Quebec, a tenant can refuse an increase at renewal and the TAL can fix the rent. Alberta sets no limit on the amount, though rent can rise only once a year has passed since the last increase or the start of the tenancy. The Cost of Living by Province guide compares the provinces.
Can I rent in Canada before I arrive?
You can, and a short-term or furnished place for the first weeks is often safer. Signing a long lease and paying deposits from abroad, sight unseen, is exactly what rental scammers exploit. If you book ahead, use a reputable furnished-rental operator, pay by a traceable method, and pay only after a lease is signed. The Settling in Canada: First 30 Days guide covers arrival.
Can a landlord ask for more than first and last month's rent?
It depends on the province. In Ontario the rent deposit cannot exceed one month's rent and goes to your last month, not damage. British Columbia allows a security deposit of up to half a month's rent, plus a pet damage deposit of up to half of the first month's rent. Alberta allows a security deposit of up to one month's rent, and Quebec does not allow a deposit. The Renting With No Credit History guide compares deposit rules across provinces.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.