4 TRAPS TO AVOID WHEN LOOKING FOR HOUSING IN CANADA!
- Marion Pudeleau
- Feb 7
- 5 min read
That’s it! Everything is ready—or almost… Your child has finally obtained their study permit (or their letter of acceptance from a Canadian university), you’re starting to look into courses and local administrative procedures, and that’s when you ask yourself: but what about housing?
You might consider a university residence, but maybe there are no spots left, your child isn’t eligible, or they prefer more independence in a private rental where they can fully enjoy student life in Montreal or Toronto…
So, it’s time for you to start looking for a rental apartment—unless you prefer to invest and buy a property directly, allowing you to take advantage of the Canadian real estate market while housing your child. This is exactly what we explore in 7 Reasons to Invest in Real Estate in Canada and 5 Tips for Investing More Easily in Canadian Real Estate.
In any case, searching for an apartment in an unfamiliar city, far from home, and remotely can be more challenging than it seems. It requires a lot of time and energy—especially when you want to ensure your child’s comfort in their new cozy home!
To make the process easier for you, here are some common traps to avoid when looking for housing in Canada
1- NOT UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS OF THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE VOCABULARY
The first trap—or rather, piece of advice—in your search is to familiarize yourself with Quebecois or English real estate vocabulary, depending on the city you're targeting. I call it a trap because if you don’t understand certain terms, you might end up with a home that doesn’t quite match what you had in mind!
Thus, for example, the way rooms are counted in a property is different from how it’s done in France an probably from some other countries. While in France, you would look for a 2 pièces to include a separate bedroom and a living room (in addition to the kitchen and bathroom), in Quebec, this would be called a 3 ½. If you mistakenly opt for a 2 ½, you’ll end up with a studio/loft without a separate room.
Similarly, floors are numbered differently than in some countries. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself on the ground floor when choosing an apartment on the first floor. Since floor numbering often starts at the basement level, what is called the first floor in Canada typically corresponds to the ground floor in France for example.
Finally, to fully understand rental listings, you’ll also need to decode terms related to inclusions and exclusions, such as hydro (electricity), tenant insurance, locker, and more.
2- NOT BEING REACTIVE ENOUGH
Once you have a better grasp of the local vocabulary and before starting your search, I also recommend gathering all the necessary documents for your rental application. You’ll need to send these to the landlord or property manager as soon as you find the perfect place.
The rental market moves very fast, whether in Montreal or Toronto. You’ll need to act quickly to submit your application before the many other interested candidates do. Every year, numerous tenants struggle to find housing and fail to move in on time due to the competitive market.
Having a complete application with all required documents will be a major advantage when the landlord is selecting a tenant, giving you a competitive edge.
Once your application is ready, you’ll also need to be highly responsive in contacting listings, scheduling visits quickly, and submitting your application right away. This also means being sure of your choice immediately after the visits, without wasting time.
Of course, it can feel risky to sign a lease for a place you’ve only seen through virtual tours or photos due to the distance.
That’s why having a trusted real estate expert to visit properties for you can be a huge help, allowing you to make an informed decision quickly
3- NOT KNOWING THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE RULES
As we’ve seen, understanding the local market is essential to increasing your chances of finding the best possible housing.
It's also crucial to know the local rental laws to avoid dealing with unscrupulous landlords. For example, it's important to know that landlords are not allowed to demand a security deposit (such as asking for up to three months' rent in advance) or post-dated checks. They also cannot ask for your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Additionally, some landlords may require tenants to have renter’s insurance to cover unpaid rent, which must be paid by the tenant.
Finally, knowing the local rules about leases, possible move-in dates and inclusions, and ways to end a lease early (such as through subletting or lease transfer) can help you choose the right place, understand when to start your search, and avoid feeling stuck if your child needs to move out earlier than expected.
On the other hand, it’s also important to be aware of your rights as a tenant so that your child doesn’t risk facing an illegal eviction from a landlord reclaiming the unit unlawfully. For example, in 2020, 40% of tenant evictions in Montreal’s La Petite-Patrie neighborhood were fraudulent.
Unfortunately, without a solid understanding of local rental laws, you could become a target for negligent or dishonest landlords who may demand illegal fees or fail to meet their obligations.
4- NOT RECOGNIZING RENTAL SCAMS
The issue of dishonest landlords brings us to another, even bigger danger: fake rental listings and fraud! Like in any major city, Montreal and Toronto are not immune to scammers who take advantage of the high rental demand to trick eager tenants into paying for what appears to be a golden opportunity—only to find out it's a scam.
In 2019, nearly 700 rental scams were reported in Canada, and by 2020, that number had risen to nearly 1,000!
Scammers specifically target international students and newcomers through online listings, as these groups are more vulnerable and often unaware of local real estate rules.
If you've started your search, you may have already come across listings with unbelievably low rent and an overly flexible landlord—until they suddenly ask you to send them money upfront because they are “not in town” before handing over the keys.
Another common scam is posting the same rental listing multiple times—even when the scammer does not own the property. They promise the unit to multiple candidates, all of whom pay a deposit to secure it, only to realize on move-in day that they’ve been scammed—alongside several others!
Unfortunately, these scams and fake listings are becoming more frequent in both Montreal and Toronto, making it essential to recognize and avoid them. Once again, having a trusted local contact who can visit the apartment in person, meet the landlord or property manager, and verify the listing can help you avoid falling into this trap.
FINDING A HOME FROM AFAR: PREPARATION IS KEY
As you can see, searching for and signing a lease remotely requires careful preparation to save you time, improve your chances of success, and most importantly, protect you from scams or dishonest landlords.
Beyond just having knowledge of the market, working with someone based in Canada—who understands the local real estate laws and can visit properties in person—might be the safest way to find the perfect home securely!
Now, you might be thinking: That all sounds great… but I don’t know anyone in Canada, and I have no idea where to start my search!
No worries — all you need is a Housing Guide!
Sources (in French) :
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