Tips for Renting Your First Home in Canada

Identifying a home for you and your family to stay in Canada can be an exciting part of your Canada Immigration. However, if you are also feeling overwhelmed a bit, this is understandable. The rental market in Canada can appear to be complex, initially.

If you wish to apply for Canada PR Visa from India, we have here briefly outlined everything you must know about renting your first home in Canada:

The Rental Experience in Canada

The process of rental in Canada can be more variable than what you are accustomed to. For instance, there is nothing like the ‘standard rental’. Alternatively, your options will be inclusive of multiple categories of rental properties such as condominiums and houses.

Further, the rental market in Canada has obvious rules and policies for rentals. The aim is to safeguard both the rentpayers and the property owners. The diverse categories of homes available for rent in Canada are:

• Houses
• Condo rentals
• Purpose-built rentals
• Shared accommodations

The process to rent your first apartment or house

Finding houses or units for rent

You can find apartments or homes in Canada through several resources including:

• Classifieds Online
• Online sites that specialize in rental property, such as Rentals.ca and ViewIt.ca
• Individual agents in real estate and the MLS listings site of the Canadian Real Estate Association – Realtor.ca
• Groups on social media like Instagram or Facebook pages organized in specific cities to assist landlords and renters connect mutually

Application form

Once you find a property that interests you, you will have to fill out a form for a rental application. This form offers the potential landlord the data needed to assess you as a prospective tenant.

The form will usually ask for details like your contact information, employment history, past rental experiences, and personal references.

Required information and documents

• ID Proof offered by the Government like Passport or Driver’s license
• Income proof like income tax assessments or pay slips
• References from past employers or landlords

Tenant insurance

Though not required legally, the majority of the landlords would like you to obtain tenant insurance. It is also known as the renter’s insurance and offers liability and coverage for personal property. It normally covers losses from crime (like theft) or natural calamities.

Be cautious of scams

Here are a few of the warning signals that the rent deal can be a scam actually:

• Rent per month is quite low in comparison with similar units in the same area
• Potential landlord asks you to pay an upfront amount before you sign a lease
• Potential landlord communicates only through email
• You are informed to wire your security deposit to an overseas nation

Trust your instincts, always. If a deal appears to be too good to be true, or the potential landlord rushes you, it’s an indication to stop and investigate further.

The lease agreement

Once you find the ideal place you can go ahead and sign the rental or lease agreement. But first, you must go through the agreement cautiously to ensure that you have understood all the terms and obligations.

A few provinces have quite stringent criteria for residential leases. Ontario for instance mandates that landlords use a standard lease form. In British Columbia, the landlords have to incorporate specific standard terms in the lease agreement.

Tips for renting in Canada

Adhere to these tips to ensure a smooth rental process:

Research rental markets locally: Have a look at the process of rent, amenities available, and neighborhood perks like walk scores (rating the ease of strolling in the area) and transit areas.

Be ready: Have the essential documents like ID proofs offered by the Government and income proof handy to file your rental application.

Have a practical budget: Fixing a budget and abiding by it will help in decreasing fiscal stress after you have settled in your new house.

Thoroughly view rental properties: Take time to explore and inspect any property that interests you. The rental property assessment form of CMHC can help you to remain organized.

Consider tenant insurance: Having tenant insurance offers you safety for your home even if your landlord does not need it.

Carefully Review your lease agreement: Read the terms carefully and ensure that you have understood what you are consenting in writing to before you sign the lease.

Be cautious of prospective scams: Note that if a deal looks too good to be true, it is often a red flag for a scam.

So, take time, follow these tips and you will be all set to get the perfect rental property for your first home in Canada.

To apply for Canada PR Visa from India, contact CICC-accredited Immigration Experts at the Top Immigration Consultants in India Nationwide Visas.

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