How to Rent an Apartment in Canada

Find an apartment in Canada to rent that fits your budget, size requirements and location preferences. Use a rental guide to help you plan your search and narrow down your options. Prioritize cost, then consider features and amenities, and finally, location and possession date.

Landlords and capreit.ca property management companies typically require tenants to provide proof of identity, employment and income, as well as a credit report. If you are newcomer to the country and don’t have these documents, it is possible to still rent an apartment by providing alternative documentation such as bank statements or a letter of employment. However, it is best to have these in hand before starting your search as some landlords may prefer to work with applicants who have met the necessary requirements.

How to Rent an Apartment in Canada: Step-by-Step Guide

Most large Canadian cities have purpose-built rental apartment communities where units are owned and managed by real estate companies or REITs and tenants lease them from the company. Other cities have smaller, privately-owned rental apartment buildings where each unit is leased by the individual owner. Regardless of where you’re searching for an apartment, it’s likely most rental properties will be listed online where you can request information and schedule viewings.

The most popular Canadian rental listing site is 4rent, which has listings in most cities and towns. Its user-friendly design includes a map view for browsing and a variety of filters for finding the right place to live. It also offers a “create alert” option for hands-off browsing and lets you submit inquiries directly using a built-in form.