CANADA - Guide for Skilled Workers

HOUSING

Renting an Apartment in Ontario

Since finding a suitable housing at a reasonable price is your first concern, your alternative may be renting an apartment with furniture, paid weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Living for a short while in this sort of apartments will allow for seeking a better one in the medium or long term (usually for 12 months) where you will start your new life with your own furniture and everyday elements, without the stress of not having a place to stay. In this case avoid renting in some places where, because of their low rent, may not be advisable because their location or your future neighbours. Remember that you pay for is what you get.

Your first housing should be, if possible, centrally located and with enough means of transportation to allow for trips in the city.

Finding the right apartment - which is, obviously, cheaper than renting a house - can be a bit difficult, and it takes time and patience. Most probably, the first housing may not suit all the needs, but bare in mind that it will be just for a while. That situation is just normal in the process of settlement in Ontario.

The following are the most common ways of seeking for-rent housing:

● Ask in apartment buildings having the “For Rent” or “Vacancy”. Go to the overseer bureau, who is the one in charge of giving information in those places.

● In free rent magazines you will find in different public areas and in many supermarket boards.

● In the section of classified ads in newspapers, where you will find a good variety of apartments in different city areas

● Asking for help in organisations which offer help to newcomers

Remember it is always advisable to phone in advance, and make an appointment with the person in charge of renting. Besides, asking for the total cost, and the additional fees for tenants, such as parking, cable TV, etc. Most apartments in Canada include electric heating and refrigerator, and the cost of water and electricity is usually included in the monthly rent, although you should make sure in every case.

Also remember that it is advisable to take into account the monthly rent and other family expenditure. You will also have to pay other services such as telephone, Internet, cable TV, apart from public transportation, etc.

Finally, keep in mind that in Ontario an in Canada, a rental agreement is a legal contract to which those who sign must abide to. You cannot do away with it, and just leave overnight.

IMPORTANT

In Ontario houses and apartments are rented on 12-month bases. Remember to ask your right to move before that period in the case you find a job far from that place and you need to move. If you include that clause or condition, you will avoid being fined for not abiding to the contract. It would be reasonable to tell the owner one month in advance before you move for they to have the e time to find a new tenant.

Where to Look for an apartment for rent in Toronto and other cities in the area:

http://www.rentersnews.ca/

www.realstar.ca

http://www.hrpm.ca/46panorama

www.biddington.com

http://www.briarlane.ca/

www.parkproperty.ca

http://www.homestead.on.ca/

http://www.gotransglobe.com/

http://www.wjproperties.ca/

http://www.pinedaleprop.com/

www.oshanter.com

www.rentminto.com

www.highparkvillage.com

http://www.glencorp.com/

www.caprent.com

www.trivestdev.com

http://www.rentoronto.com/

http://www.mainst.biz/

www.berkleypm.ca

www.thorncliffe.ca

http://www.gatewayproperties.ca/

http://www.standardlofts.com/

www.leasidetowers.com

www.greenwinpm.com

http://www.themyriadgroup.net/

www.hrpm.ca

www.theplacetorent.ca

www.thearista.com

http://www.thevalleywoods.com/

http://www.ghcapital.ca/

www.danielsgateway.com

http://www.dmsproperty.com/

AVERAGE RENT IN DIFFERENT ONTARIO CITIES (APARTMENT RENT)

Area		October 1998	October 2006
TORONTO AREA & MISSISSAUGA	1 Bedroom	$ 729	$ 884
	2 Bedroom	$ 881	$1040
Ottawa	1 Bedroom	$ 615	$ 768
	2 Bedroom	$ 754	$ 932
Hamilton	1 Bedroom	$ 539	$ 633
	2 Bedroom	$ 662	$ 778
London	1 Bedroom	$ 515	$ 586
	2 Bedroom	$ 637	$ 736
Kitchener	1 Bedroom	$ 545	$ 646
	2 Bedroom	$ 641	$ 754

Rental statistics are from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, with the lateststatistics coming from their CMHC Rental Market Survey, Press Release, December , 2006

There are some points you should bare in mind:

iStay calm and don’t rush. Finding a suitable housing takes time. Don’t get discouraged either. We have all gone through the same circumstances when we were newcomers.

iHow much will be the maximum rent you can pay for? Make a budget to state how much of you funds you can assign to housing.

iAsk and keep in mind the utilities that are included in the monthly rent. Make sure to have everything put in written before you sign.

i Watch the apartment in detail, paying special attention to bad odours (because of garbage accumulation) or problems in the electricity or piping systems.

i Check where the laundry is. Ask for the opening hours and the cost of coins for the machine.

i Apartments in high floors have the advantage that noises from the street are not so loud. The disadvantage is the amount of storeys to go up, if the elevator is out of order.

i Make sure there are smoke detectors in the apartment, it is compulsory. Ask whether curtains and blinds are included in the rent or if it is you who must bring them. Most overseers in charge of buildings may help you fix them or lend you their tools.

i Get to know the area and find the things you need: school, public transportation, food shops, supermarket, etc.

FROM OUR EXPERIENCE

When you rent an apartment or house in Canada, contracts are for 6 or 12 months according to what you agree with the owner.

It is just normal that in rental agreements the tenant (you) has to pay two monthly rents when you sign it – the first monthly rent and an additional one (or last month) customary here.

It is customary to tell the owner two months in advance if you will move. That is to say that you have the right to say two more months after paying the last rent – one for the monthly rent and the other for the extra month you paid when you signed the contract.

If you need to move to a new place, always keep in mind to tell the owner at least two months in advance to avoid inconvenience and lose the monthly fee you paid in advance for the last month.

On the other hand, some Canadian owners may ask you another month when you sign, as a deposit of guaranty. They claim to need it for possible repairing or to purchase any objects you or your family may break, such as glasses, bathroom fittings, faucets, etc.

This deposit of guaranty ins not compulsory, and you can deny to pay for it. We have seen that, in general terms, that sum in not refunded to newcomers. They claim to need it to pay for repairing or to refurbish the house after several years of use, which may be reasonable or not.

You are not obliged to pay for the deposit of guaranty for the housing you rent.

- FURNITURES

To start your new life in an apartment you will need to buy furniture and other belongings. Remember that you might have them brought from your country by some international moving companies. However, you should assess whether the cost of moving and the quality of that furniture justify that solution. It may be advisable if you have good quality furniture, as they are quite expensive in Canada.

On the other hand, many families initially get the basic pieces of furniture, economical and light. It is a good idea to purchase pieces that have different functions, such as sofa-beds or bunk beds, which can serve as chairs. Many prefer purchasing air beds to start, as they are easy to install and move.

Remember that the possibility to move your furniture is important when it comes to moving to other apartment or house. Sometimes it could be more costly to take your furniture from one place to the other than their total cost.

- ELECTRICITY AND APPLIANCES.

When you arrive to live in Canada you can bring your appliances, duty free. You should only bring those of a good quality and having the stamp of the Canadian (CA) or American (UL) regulations.

In Canada, the residence electricity power is:

● 120 volts –60 Hz

So, if you come from Europe, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru or Brazil, where the residential electric power is 220 volts-50hz DON’T bring your appliances to Canada, as you will not be able to use them. Moreover, plugs in Canada are like the American ones, different from the European plugs.

- TELEPHONE

There are several telecommunication companies in Ontario that can give you a telephone number. The line will belong to the person who buys it, and not to the house. Moreover, if you must move to other area of the city, you have the possibility to keep the same telephone number. To get your telephone line you just need to contact one of these companies, usually leave a small deposit, and your telephone line will be connected in your apartment in a few days.

In general terms, telephone fees are fixed, with unlimited local phone calls in both amount and duration. Thus, you will be able to use the telephone as much as you need, and use it to connect to Internet, which service you will have to pay separately.

IMPORTANT:

The international call you make from your telephone are VERY EXPENSIVES. If you need to call your country it is advisable to buy an international phone card, with which it is very cheap to make this type of calls. There are different companies and plans (Internet) and you can purchase them in the shops close to your house.

- SAFETY AT HOME

As Canadian buildings are made of a high percentage of flammables, such as wood, carpets, and derived products) there are sound prevention measures against fire at home. Usually, there is a general sound fire alarm in every building. Apart from that, every apartment or house must have, by law, smoke detectors, which a re rather cheap and can save your life and your neighbours’.

Certain basic safety measures must be borne in mind, especially when hot oil is used to cook (to fry) and finally. you should never smoke in bed.

IMPORTANT !

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