Finding a Place to Live

There are many different ways to learn about renting or buying a home in Ontario. There are rental websites on the internet. Local newspapers also list rentals and homes for sale. Do you need help? Newcomer settlement agencies can provide you with assistance. Here are some things to know about renting or buying a home in Ontario:

Renting: When you rent a place to live — an apartment, house or condominium — you become a tenant or renter. The person or company that owns the property is the landlord. You may have to sign a written agreement, called a lease, that outlines the responsibilities you have as a tenant. You will pay rent each month as part of that agreement. The landlord is responsible for keeping your rented home safe and suitable for people to live in. It may be difficult to find reasonably priced rental property in a larger city. Before you begin your search, take some time to think about where you want to live and how much you can afford to pay in rent. In choosing where to live, you will want to think about how far you might have to travel to work, or how close you are to schools and other community services. You should also buy tenant insurance to protect your personal belongings. Rent will probably be one of your largest monthly expenses.

Buying a home: You may choose to buy your own home — a house, condominium or townhouse, for example. Most people need financial assistance for this. Banks and financial institutions can give you information about interest rates, mortgages and loans. Rates and obligations can vary between institutions. It is important to understand all of the other expenses you will pay if you own a home. They include taxes, electricity, heating and homeowner insurance. Condominium owners must also pay a property or condo fee to keep the common areas in the condominium property safe, clean and accessible.

Co-operative (“Co-op”) housing: In co-operative housing, all of the tenants contribute their own time to the upkeep and maintenance of the building(s). This means that the rent charged for the units is usually lower than private rental units. Co-operative housing is not available in all communities.

Boarding Homes: Boarding homes offer limited private space, usually one room, and sometimes other services such as meals or laundry facilities. These are often most suitable for single people and couples for a short period of time. Emergency shelters and hostels: A shelter is somewhere you can stay for a short length of time. Besides offering you a temporary place to stay, shelters also offer counseling, support and referrals to legal, health and other services. A hostel offers food and shelter to people who do not have a permanent home, or are in crisis. Some hostels also offer health care, education, legal help and job search training, as well as “drop-in” programs for non-residents. Staff at hostels for groups with special needs, like newcomers, often speak several different languages or can arrange for an interpreter. Each shelter and hostel has its own set of rules about who can stay, for how long they can stay and the services they offer.

Subsidized housing: If you qualify for subsidized housing, the amount of rent you pay is determined by the amount of money you make. There is a limited number of these specially-funded rental homes available. Not every community can offer them. You will need to complete an application process for subsidized housing. You can get advice about this, and other kinds of housing, at one of the newcomer service agencies listed in this guide.