Renting as a newcomer.
With no Canadian credit or job yet, renting takes a different approach. Most newcomers go from a temporary stay to a room to their own lease.
Apartment hunt
- Viewed 4 units in person
- Landlord verified
- Tenant insurance
Three steps most newcomers take.
Temporary stay
First 2–4 weeks
A short-term rental, hotel or family and friends. It gives you an address and time to view places in person.
A room or shared unit
Month 1–6
Cheaper and easier to get without credit history. A good bridge while you start work.
Your own lease
When ready
Usually a 12-month lease. Easier once you have a job letter and some Canadian credit.
And what you can offer instead.
You may not have everything on a landlord’s usual list. Here’s what often works in its place.
Credit check
No history yet? Offer bank statements showing savings, and explain you’re a new permanent resident or worker.
Employment letter
Offer a job offer letter, proof of funds, or several months’ rent where your province allows prepayment.
References
Rental references from home, your employer, or a settlement worker can help.
Guarantor
A co-signer with Canadian credit, such as a relative, can make approval much easier.
Deposit
Rules differ by province. Know what a landlord is allowed to ask for before you pay.
Tenant insurance
Often required, usually inexpensive, and covers your belongings and liability.
What renting costs up front.
Budget for more than just the rent. Deposit rules are set by each province.
| Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Rent | Paid monthly, usually on the first |
| Deposit | Ontario: last month’s rent (no damage deposit). B.C.: security deposit up to half a month’s rent. Quebec: deposits generally not allowed |
| Utilities | Sometimes included; otherwise $100–250 a month |
| Internet | $60–90 a month |
| Tenant insurance | $20–40 a month |
Deposit rules summarized as of September 2026. Check your provincial tenancy board for current rules.
Rent snapshots.
Toronto
1-bed: $2,100–$2,500
2-bed: $2,700–$3,200
Vancouver
1-bed: $2,200–$2,600
2-bed: $3,000–$3,500
Calgary
1-bed: $1,400–$1,700
2-bed: $1,750–$2,100
Montreal
1-bed: $1,550–$1,900
2-bed: $1,900–$2,400
Ottawa
1-bed: $1,800–$2,150
2-bed: $2,250–$2,650
Monthly rent ranges around average asking rents from the Rentals.ca/Urbanation National Rent Report (July–August 2026). Check current listings.
Red flags to watch for.
Asked to pay before viewing
Never send a deposit for a place you haven’t seen in person or on a live video call.
The price is far below market
Very cheap listings in expensive cities are a common scam pattern.
The landlord is “overseas”
Be wary if keys are to be “mailed” after payment.
No written lease
Ontario requires the standard lease form for most rentals; other provinces have their own rules.
Pressure to decide now
A legitimate landlord will let you read the lease before signing.
Payment by gift card or crypto
Pay by traceable methods and get receipts.
