Renting your first apartment in Canada

How most newcomers find their first home

Most newcomers move in three steps:

1. A temporary stay for 2 to 4 weeks: a short-term rental, hotel, or family and friends. It gives you an address and time to view places in person.
2. A room or shared unit for the first months. It is cheaper and easier to get without credit history. A room averaged $909 a month across B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec in August 2026.
3. Your own lease, usually for 12 months, once you have a job letter and some Canadian history.

Rents are falling. Average asking rents in Canada were $2,035 in August 2026, 4.8% lower than a year earlier, so landlords in many cities have more empty units and more room to accept newcomers. See average rents for your city in the cost of living calculator.

What landlords ask for, and what you can offer instead

Landlords want to know you will pay on time. They usually ask for a credit check, proof of income and references. You may have none of these in Canada yet. That is normal. Offer something for each:

Put it all in one folder (paper and PDF) with a short cover letter about you, your job and when you want to move in. Being ready first matters in busy markets.

Do you need a guarantor?

A guarantor (also called a co-signer) promises to pay your rent if you do not. Landlords like them, but most newcomers do not have one. You can still rent without one if you show a job letter, strong savings, or both. Rooms, sublets and student residences rarely ask for a guarantor.

Be careful with paid "guarantor services" and with anyone who offers to be your guarantor for a fee. Read the contract, check the company is real, and know what you are paying for. Try our rent without a guarantor checker to see your options.

First and last month’s rent, deposits and "key money"

Deposit rules are set by each province. Know them before you pay anything.

"Key money" is an extra cash payment to "secure" a unit, beyond the deposits allowed. It is not a normal part of renting in Canada. If someone asks for a large non-refundable fee to hold a place, walk away or check with your provincial tenancy office first.

Paying months in advance: some newcomers offer 6 or 12 months of rent up front to make up for no credit. In Ontario and B.C. a landlord cannot require more than the deposits above, though you may choose to offer it. If you do, pay only after signing a written lease, get a receipt, and never pay a stranger you have not verified. Large advance payments are what scammers want most.

The lease: what to check before you sign

• Ontario: most leases signed since April 30, 2018 must use the Ontario standard lease. It lists the rent, what is included and the rules for deposits.
• B.C.: landlords must give a written tenancy agreement. Do a move-in condition inspection together and keep the report; it decides who pays for damage later.
• Quebec: leases use the mandatory form, and the rules are enforced by the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL).

Check the rent, the due date, the length of the lease, what is included, who pays for repairs, rules on guests and pets, and whether tenant insurance is required. In Ontario a landlord can require you to have liability insurance and ask for proof.

Utilities: what is included and what it costs

Ask exactly what the rent includes. Many apartments include heat and water. You often pay electricity (hydro) and internet yourself; in houses you may also pay heat (gas) and water.

• Our budget uses about $150 a month for utilities and $75 for internet. Electric heat in winter can cost much more.
• Open your hydro account in your name before you move in. Some utilities ask new customers without credit history for a deposit.
• Tenant insurance often costs $20 to $40 a month and covers your things and your liability.
• Compare internet plans in our home internet guide.

Rent increases and your rights

Each province limits how and when rent can go up.

• Ontario: most units can have one increase every 12 months, with written notice, up to the yearly guideline. The guideline for 2027 is 1.9%. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are not covered by the guideline.
• B.C.: rent can go up once every 12 months, up to the yearly limit set by the Residential Tenancy Branch.
• Quebec: the TAL publishes guidance each year, and tenants can refuse an increase and let the TAL decide.

Every province has a body that settles disputes: Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board, B.C.’s Residential Tenancy Branch and Quebec’s TAL. Settlement agencies and legal clinics can help for free. See tenant rights by province and check increases with our rent increase calculator.

Where to look, and how to stay safe

Use established rental sites, property management companies and your settlement agency. Community groups and word of mouth can lead to good rooms, but take extra care with listings on social media, where most scams appear. Never send money for a place you have not seen in person or on a live video call, and check that the person owns or manages it. Read our full guide to rental scams.

Common questions

Sources

• Ontario: Guide to Ontario’s standard lease
• Ontario: Renting in Ontario, your rights
• B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch: Deposits and fees
• B.C. Residential Tenancy Branch: Starting a tenancy
• Tribunal administratif du logement (Quebec)
• Rentals.ca and Urbanation: National Rent Report, September 2026 (August data)

Checked against these sources on October 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.