These areas often have less traffic, lower taxes, and a strong sense of community. While wages may also be lower, the cost of living is manageable, making them attractive for families, retirees, and newcomers. Choosing an affordable location can provide financial stability and a more relaxed lifestyle compared to big urban cities. Let’s take a look at the top affordable places to live in Canada in 2026.

Why Affordability Matters in Canada Today

It is important to understand why affordability matters in Canada today because rising living costs are outpacing wages, making it harder for individuals and families to meet basic needs like housing, food, and transportation. Many Canadians are struggling with debt, and younger generations face barriers to home ownership and financial stability. The affordability crisis impacts mental health, economic growth, and social equity.

Addressing affordability is essential to ensure a strong middle class, reduce poverty, and maintain a high quality of life. As inflation and interest rates fluctuate, urgent action is needed to create sustainable, inclusive solutions that make life more affordable for all Canadians. For those looking to get ahead and pay a manageable price for living, Canada offers solutions outside major cities that are appealing for many reasons.

Key Factors That Determine Affordability

Housing Costs

Housing is the largest factor in determining affordability. This includes rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and home insurance. In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, sky-high housing prices make living costs difficult to manage, while smaller cities like Moncton or Regina offer significantly more affordable options. Affordable housing allows individuals and families to allocate income toward savings, education, or other needs, contributing to long-term financial stability. 

Groceries, Transit, and Utilities

Daily living expenses like groceries, public transit, and utilities also play a major role in affordability. Grocery prices can vary widely depending on location, with rural or northern areas often facing higher costs. Efficient public transit can reduce the need for a car, saving thousands annually. Utility costs, including electricity, heating, and internet, add up quickly, so lower rates and energy-efficient homes can make a noticeable difference in monthly budgets. 

Quality of Life vs. Cost

Affordability isn’t just about low prices—it’s also about value for money. A more affordable city should still offer healthcare access, safety, job opportunities, education, and recreational options. Some regions offer a high quality of life without the premium cost of major metropolitan areas. Finding a balance between cost and livability ensures that residents can enjoy their surroundings and meet personal and family goals without financial strain.

Top 10 Most Affordable Places to Live in Canada(2026)

Sherbrooke, QC

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Sherbrooke offers an average rent of $1,100 for a one-bedroom apartment, making it an affordable choice compared to larger cities in Quebec and Canada overall. 

Population

As of 2024, Sherbrooke’s estimated population is 180,000. This mid-sized city provides a balanced mix of urban conveniences and small-town charm. 

Why It’s Affordable

The city’s affordability is driven by its strong student population and relatively low demand for high-end housing. Lower property costs and cost of living also help keep rental prices stable. 

Lifestyle Highlights

As a university town, Sherbrooke boasts a vibrant cultural scene, outdoor activities, and an active, youthful population. The city is highly bikeable, has great access to nearby outdoor attractions, and has highly accessible services in town, including two hospitals, one located in the centre of the city.

Moncton, NB

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Moncton is $1,100, offering an affordable option for individuals and couples seeking a budget-friendly lifestyle. 

Population

Moncton’s population in 2024 is estimated at over 95,000. It’s a growing city that maintains a close-knit community feel while continuing to expand. 

Why It’s Affordable

Moncton remains affordable due to its low overall cost of living, reasonable housing prices, and slower urban development compared to larger Canadian cities. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Known for its bilingual culture, Moncton is family-friendly, welcoming, and affordable—ideal for those looking for balance and community. Often referred to as the “Hub City,” Moncton connects a number of Maritime provinces and has a detailed history extending back thousands of years. 

Thunder Bay

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Thunder Bay’s average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,250. This is lower than in many Ontario cities, making it a more budget-friendly option for those looking to live in the province but pay less than other locations.  

Population

In 2024, Thunder Bay’s estimated population is over 108,000. It’s a mid-sized city that offers the amenities of urban living with a smaller-town atmosphere. 

Why It’s Affordable

The city’s affordability stems from slower population growth and a steady housing supply. Property values remain accessible, keeping rental prices below the provincial average. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Thunder Bay offers easy access to nature, with nearby lakes, trails, and parks. It’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking a quieter lifestyle. 

Saint John, NB

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Saint John is $1,050, making it one of the most affordable cities in Atlantic Canada for renters. 

Population

Saint John’s estimated population in 2024 is over 69,000. It’s a smaller urban center with a strong sense of community and historic charm. 

Why It’s Affordable

Affordability in Saint John is driven by a low cost of living and an undervalued housing market, which helps keep rent prices lower than the national average. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Residents enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle, access to waterfront views, and a housing market that supports first-time renters and buyers alike. As one of Canada’s oldest cities, it is steeped in history.

Abbotsford, BC

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Abbotsford is $1,500, offering a more affordable option compared to nearby Vancouver. 

Population

Abbotsford’s estimated population in 2024 is 160,000. It’s one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing cities, with a mix of urban and rural living. 

Why It’s Affordable

Abbotsford is more affordable than Greater Vancouver due to lower housing demand and more available land, making it attractive for those seeking value in BC. 

Lifestyle Highlights

The city boasts a warmer climate, strong job growth, and serves as a practical, family-friendly alternative to Vancouver with scenic surroundings. Compared to the bustle of Vancouver, Abbotsford offers a slower lifestyle that still has the amenities of big city living.

Regina, SK

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

In Regina, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,080, making it an affordable choice for individuals and newcomers to the Prairies. 

Population

As of 2024, Regina’s population is estimated at 235,000. It’s a growing city with a strong community feel and increasing economic opportunities. 

Why It’s Affordable

Regina’s affordability is driven by a balanced housing market, steady development, and a lower cost of living compared to larger Canadian cities. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Residents benefit from affordable housing, a stable economy, and access to parks, cultural venues, and a welcoming Prairie lifestyle. Regina is easily accessible and features small town, friendly charm that Canada is known for.  

Winnipeg, MB

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Winnipeg’s average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is just over $1,400, offering great value in one of Canada’s larger urban centers. 

Population

With a population of 834,000 in 2024, Winnipeg is Manitoba’s capital and a thriving cultural and economic hub on the Prairies. 

Why It’s Affordable

Winnipeg remains affordable thanks to steady housing development, a moderate cost of living, and accessible property prices compared to other major cities. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Residents enjoy an urban lifestyle with vibrant arts, diverse neighborhoods, and lower housing costs than in many other big cities. Winnipeg is a great choice for young families looking to enter the market and maintain an affordable lifestyle.  

Charlottetown, PEI

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Charlottetown rentals average $1,000 for a one-bedroom unit, one of the lowest in the country, especially for a provincial capital.

Population

In 2024, Charlottetown’s population is around 42,000, making it a small city with a welcoming, close-knit atmosphere. 

Why It’s Affordable

The city’s small size, limited urban sprawl, and lower utility and transportation costs help keep living expenses very manageable. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Charlottetown offers island charm, a strong sense of community, and relaxed living—perfect for those seeking a peaceful coastal environment. It is accessible and runs at a slow pace, ideal for those who want to unwind and detach from the mainland.  

Sudbury, ON

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Sudbury’s average rent is $1,800 for a one-bedroom, reflecting higher prices within Northern Ontario but still affordable by provincial standards. 

Population

The city has an estimated 2024 population of 170,000, making it the largest urban center in Northern Ontario. 

Why It’s Affordable

Despite recent rent increases, Sudbury remains affordable due to its slower population growth, regional location, and strong rental supply. 

Lifestyle Highlights

Residents benefit from stable employment in healthcare, manufacturing, and mining, affordable rentals, and access to natural beauty including over 300 lakes. 

Lethbridge, AB

Average Rent (1-Bedroom)

Lethbridge offers one-bedroom apartments at an average rent of $1,400, providing good value within Alberta’s housing market. 

Population

As of 2024, Lethbridge has a population of about 98,000, making it a mid-sized city with a strong sense of community.

Why It’s Affordable

Lethbridge stays affordable due to low property taxes, accessible home prices, and a cost of living below the national average. 

Lifestyle Highlights

The city features a mild climate, a vibrant student population, and access to parks and trails, offering a relaxed, active lifestyle. 

Comparison: Most Affordable Places to Live in Canada 2026

Cheapest Provinces in Canada to Live

If you’re looking to stretch your budget, some provinces in Canada are more affordable than others. Generally, the cheapest provinces to live in are New Brunswick, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. These areas offer lower housing costs, utility expenses, and even groceries compared to places like Ontario or British Columbia. Smaller cities and rural towns often provide great quality of life without the high price tag. While job opportunities may vary by region, many people find the savings in everyday costs more than make up for it.

Tips for Moving to an Affordable Canadian City

Moving to a more affordable Canadian city can be a smart financial move, but it helps to plan ahead. Start by researching local job markets, healthcare access, and housing options, including apartments for rent in Winnipeg options if Manitoba is on your shortlist. Consider renting first to get a feel for the area. Join local community groups online to connect with residents and get insider tips. Factor in transportation costs—some smaller cities may lack public transit options. Finally, budget for moving expenses like truck rentals and deposits. A little planning goes a long way in making your transition smooth and successful.

FAQs: Most Affordable Places to Live in Canada

Rethink The Way You Rent

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The post Most Affordable Places to Live in Canada | 2026 appeared first on liv.rent blog.

In this environment, outdated rental platforms aren’t good enough. Whether you’re listing a unit or searching for a new place to live, it’s essential to use a platform that values transparency, safety, and efficiency. This post will explore the best rental sites for Charlottetown and why liv.rent is the top choice for both tenants and landlords seeking a secure, all-in-one rental experience.

How do I find rentals in Charlottetown?

Renters in Charlottetown have more tools than ever when it comes to finding a place to live. While driving around town looking for “For Rent” signs still works, it’s no longer the most efficient way to search. Today’s renters can save time and effort by turning to the many rental websites available locally and across Canada.

With so many platforms to choose from, though, it can be hard to know where to begin. Landlords face the same challenge, figuring out which site offers the best value, reach, and features is just one more task in an already packed schedule. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up the best rental websites for Charlottetown, PEI. Here’s our list.

1. liv.rent

liv.rent is a Vancouver-based all-in-one rental platform that allows landlords and tenants to rent safely and securely thanks to an extensive verification process and tools like the Trust Score. As you can see, the platform unsurprisingly ticks all of our boxes and has a variety of flexible payment options for landlords to get started and rent better.

Renters

On liv.rent, tenants can easily search for rentals using a variety of filters and even a map view, then quickly message landlords for more information using built-in instant chat. From there, they can submit applications, book viewings and when it comes time, sign lease agreements and pay rent and security deposits through a variety of methods including credit cards, UnionPay and even Bitcoin.

The platform also has standard digital lease agreements for B.C., in addition to a variety of customizable lease addendums to add detail to your contract. For quick and effective tenant screening, liv.rent created the Trust Score, which gives landlords a comprehensive picture of a tenant’s suitability including a credit summary, a detailed risk assessment, income & employment verification, and more. All in all, this complete platform is the best way to advertise your apartment for rent.

Landlords

For landlords looking to further streamline their rental process and gain access to the same tools used by professional property managers, liv.rent’s new Growth plan is here to make renting even easier. The Growth plan is effectively an all-in-one property management software package with all the tools you’ll need to digitize and streamline your rental process from start to finish. For just $48/month, this comprehensive plan includes:

• Unlimited lease protection addendums
• 2 Trust Score reports with credit check per month
• Automated rental advertising (2 per month)
• Shared management tools for up to 3 users

…plus everything in our Essentials plan.

2. Zumper

Zumper is another all-in-one rental platform that Charlottetown renters and landlords will likely encounter. In addition to its visually-appealing layout, Zumper has features to help landlords and tenants navigate every stage of the rental process, including tenant screening and rent collection.

Renters

For renters, Zumper offers a convenient way to browse and apply for listings thanks to its visually appealing layout. With that being said, the site does lack the comprehensive security and verification features of other platforms like liv.rent, though it does allow for the entire rental process to be completed within the site.

Landlords

Zumper also has a full 12/12 features, including digital contracts and rent payments and a variety of tools to help you create and share listings. The only area where the site falters is in its security protocols, which aren’t as in-depth as other platforms. Also, though it’s free to start, Zumper charges 2% of rent for landlords or property managers who have more than 10 listings, which makes it a costly option for businesses. Still, this platform’s wide range of features put it in contention for the best rental websites in Charlottetown.

3. Zillow

Zillow is primarily a platform for buying and selling real estate, but the site can also be ranked among Charlottetown’s best rental websites. The platform has a variety of tools to simplify the lives of both landlords and renters, although it’s two shy of a perfect 12. Zillow is free to start for landlords but can get costly quickly if you’re posting more than one listing due to the weekly rate.

Renters

Zillow is fairly easy to browse, thanks to a handy map view and a simple, easy-to-navigate layout. Renters can also request to book showings/submit applications directly from the listing page using pre-set forms. It’s also handy to be able to see exactly when listings were posted front and centre to save time applying to outdated posts.

Landlords

Zillow has a good range of descriptors and options for creating great-looking listings which include room for tons of photos as well as 3D tours. The site also provides a convenient neighbourhood map for all listings, in addition to an FAQ section that gives more information about the property and its location. Zillow has several convenient features for managing rentals as well, including rent payments and digital contracts, though it lacks some marketing and organizational tools.

4. Kijiji

Kijiji is a marketplace site that has also become a popular place for landlords and renters to post and find rental listings. The platform offers a basic suite of listing features including plenty of fields and filters for filling out specific details and room for lots of photos.

Renters

Kijiji is a good basic option for browsing and applying for listings, though it lacks many features that renters may look for. The site does allow for messaging within the platform which makes for much easier communication. Unfortunately, Kijiji doesn’t have much in the way of security features and provides little protection against scams.

Landlords

For landlords, Kijiji is a perfectly suitable place to post your listings due to the site’s broad audience and high traffic, though that’s about all it offers. Unlike Craigslist, Kijiji does have a chat feature for easy communication, as well as a centralized inbox for easy lead management.

5. Rentals.ca

Rentals.ca is another popular place to find and rent apartments, houses and condos, and offers a user-friendly layout as well as excellent search capabilities and an interactive map.

Renters

Rentals.ca is a great option for renters looking for the best rental websites in Charlottetown primarily because of the number of listings available. Since it’s such a popular platform, there are plenty of rentals to choose from and the site makes it easy to navigate them thanks to a split-screen map/photo view and lots of different search filters.

Landlords

Rentals.ca allows landlords to post for free, and the site offers lots of ways to customize your listing and make it stand out, including a photo gallery and neighbourhood score. Because it’s a listing site, Rentals.ca doesn’t provide features for navigating the rental process beyond inquiries.

6. PadMapper

As its name suggests, PadMapper provides an easy-to-use map view for convenient navigation, as well as a variety of search features. The site is fairly bare-bones in terms of appearance and features, but does work exceptionally well for what it does.

Renters

PadMapper lets renters browse with ease, thanks to an interactive map and various filters. As far as communications, PadMapper allows tenants to send messages with their phone number and email address to get in touch with landlords. The platform doesn’t mention any specific security or verification processes, though it does require a precise address in order to post a listing.

Landlords

PadMapper is a simple, effective way for landlords to get their listings posted quickly, though the site doesn’t offer support for much beyond inquiries. The site’s map view is extremely easy to navigate though, a feature which tenants still gravitate towards.

7. Facebook Marketplace/Groups

Facebook Groups and even Marketplace are great ways to find places to rent in Charlottetown. Though renters and landlords should exercise caution when using the platform due to the potential for fraudulent posts and users, there are plenty of local, moderated groups that allow for easy browsing and the ability to get in touch over Facebook Messenger.

Renters

Facebook has become a great option for renters to browse apartments thanks to the volume of posts, though this is also its greatest downfall. Also because Facebook has never claimed to be a rental platform, the site has few checks in place for screening out scams, although many moderated groups provide a safer alternative.

Landlords

Landlords looking to reach a broad audience would do well to post their listing to Facebook due to the large number of renters browsing the platform. Though it doesn’t provide much in the way of additional features, it’s easy to get your listing posted and communicate through the built-in Messenger app.

8. Craigslist

If you’ve ever rented in Charlottetown before, you’re likely no stranger to Craigslist. The marketplace site has become an extremely popular place to post and find rental listings due to its pared-down appeal and ease of use. Though it may come out on top in terms of the number of listings available, the site lacks many of the security features renters and landlords should look for in a rental platform.

Renters

Renters can easily browse the site using a good selection of filters. For applications, Craigslist lists landlords’ email addresses and/or phone numbers for renters to get in touch. Do use caution when applying to rentals on Craigslist though – since there’s little in the way of verification, it’s not uncommon to come across rental scams on the site.

Landlords

Craigslist does provide a basic listing template including room for plenty of photos. The site also allows for a map view of each property and provides ample room for a description, as well as pre-set options for details about the unit. Renters can easily browse for rentals using a good selection of filters. For applications, Craigslist lists landlords’ email addresses and/or phone numbers for renters to get in touch.

Renters: What is the best website to find rental homes?

For renters, choosing a rental website that prioritizes your safety and security while giving you access to plenty of listings is key. When we look at both of these categories together, there’s a clear winner among the rental websites discussed here: liv.rent.

In addition to being one of the few platforms available in Charlottetown that allows renters to conduct the entire rental process online – from application to rent payment, liv.rent stands tall as the safest rental website. For the hands-down best all-in-one rental platform, be sure to start your search on liv.rent.

Landlords: What is the best website to find tenants and manage your rentals?

Websites like Craigslist and Kijiji are great for landlords looking to simply post their listing and nothing more, but this isn’t usually the case. Today’s landlords look for a rental platform that allows them to perform all their essential functions in one place, and in that respect, liv.rent is the clear winner for best apartment rental website in Charlottetown

The platform’s broad range of marketing and management features put it head and shoulders above the competition, while flexible pricing plans let both landlords and property managers find an option that works for them. As well, liv.rent has a detailed verification process for tenants including the Trust Score, where you can view employment/income verification, credit checks and more in an easy-to-understand format. Best of all? It’s completely free to post unlimited listings, as well as access many liv.rent features like rent collection and standard digital contracts.

If you’re searching for an easier way to list and manage your rentals, be sure to sign up for liv.rent today.

What is the best rental website in Charlottetown?

As we stated earlier, liv.rent takes the proverbial cake for Charlottetown’s best apartment rental website due to its streamlined approach to the rental process and next-level security and safety features. The variety of different functions landlords renters can perform without leaving the platform sets liv.rent apart, like sending, receiving & signing digital leases, scheduling and paying rent through Automated Direct Deposit (or Bitcoin!), all backed by ultra-secure encryption protocols and manually verified landlords, tenants and listings. In terms of quantity and variety of listings as well, liv.rent has more than enough different rental listings to go toe-to-toe with global heavyweights like Zillow and Zumper, as well as local favourites like Craigslist.

Particularly for first-time renters, students, or those renting from abroad, using a rental platform that protects you from the stress and financial burden of scams should be your first priority. In the absence of face-to-face communication, there are plenty of opportunities for dishonest or deceitful behaviour on either end of the rental process. Our goal at liv.rent is to reduce the risk of potential scams by helping connect verified landlords & tenants to build a trusted rental community.

Start your search for Charlottetown rentals today — sign up for liv.rent for FREE and enjoy unlimited access to verified listings, trusted landlords & more.

FAQ: The best apartment rental websites in Charlottetown

How do I find a place to rent in Charlottetown?

An apartment rental website is the most common method of finding housing in Charlottetown, though some renters still prefer to look for a place to rent in person. If you do want to go digital, this list should provide a good idea of where to start your search.

We’d highly recommend starting on liv.rent, since this is the only platform on our list with verification processes for both landlords and listings, which ensures you’re protected from costly rental scams.

What is the best site to find a rental?

Again, our vote would have to go to liv.rent. With plenty of listings in the city of Charlottetown and surrounding areas and a complete 12/12 features, not to mention its unique safety features, this all-in-one rental platform is the best site to find a rental in Charlottetown.

Where is the best place to advertise a rental?

For landlords as well, liv.rent is the best option for listing and advertising rentals in Charlottetown thanks to its easy listing sharing and features like built-in tenant screening with the Trust Score.

Is it hard to find a place to rent in Charlottetown?

There are many factors that go into determining how easy or hard it might be to secure rental housing, such as competition, vacancy rates, and the time of year. In general, renters will have a tougher time finding a place to rent in Charlottetown during the summer months and into the fall as students return to school, while the winter months are typically a bit slower with less competition, but scarcer units.

How do I advertise a place to rent?

Once you’ve posted your listing online, your best strategy for advertising your listing and renting it as quickly as possible is by sharing it to multiple platforms. You can read liv.rent’s guide to effectively advertising your rental property here for more helpful tips.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post The Top 8 Apartment Rental Websites In Charlottetown PEI appeared first on liv.rent blog.

In a market this competitive, renters and landlords alike can’t afford to waste time on outdated, unsafe, or inefficient rental tools. That’s where choosing the right rental platform becomes crucial. Whether you’re searching for your next home or listing a unit, you need a space that prioritizes trust, transparency, and ease of use. The purpose of this post is to help you decide which is the best website to post your rental property listing or begin your search, highlighting what makes liv.rent the safest, easiest all-in-one rental platform for both renters and landlords.

How do I find rentals in Chilliwack?

Renters have plenty of options for finding a place to rent in Chilliwack. Gone are the days of canvassing neighbourhoods for “for rent” signs – though this can still be an effective, albeit time-consuming, strategy. Instead, today’s renters should take advantage of the wide variety of rental websites available in Chilliwack and across Canada to help streamline their search.

There’s an almost overwhelming amount of options for rental websites, though, and it can be hard for renters to know where to start. For landlords, too, discerning every platform’s features and finally choosing a place to post your listing can be a tough task on top of an already busy workload. That’s why we’ve collected our top picks for the best rental websites in Chilliwack. Here’s the list!

1. liv.rent

liv.rent is a Vancouver-based all-in-one rental platform that allows landlords and tenants to rent safely and securely thanks to an extensive verification process and tools like the Trust Score. As you can see, the platform unsurprisingly ticks all of our boxes and has a variety of flexible payment options for landlords to get started and rent better.

Renters

On liv.rent, tenants can easily search for rentals using a variety of filters and even a map view, then quickly message landlords for more information using built-in instant chat. From there, they can submit applications, book viewings and when it comes time, sign lease agreements and pay rent and security deposits through a variety of methods including credit cards, UnionPay and even Bitcoin.

The platform also has standard digital lease agreements for B.C., in addition to a variety of customizable lease addendums to add detail to your contract. For quick and effective tenant screening, liv.rent created the Trust Score, which gives landlords a comprehensive picture of a tenant’s suitability including a credit summary, a detailed risk assessment, income & employment verification, and more. All in all, this complete platform is the best way to advertise your apartment for rent.

For landlords looking to further streamline their rental process and gain access to the same tools used by professional property managers, liv.rent’s new Growth plan is here to make renting even easier. The Growth plan is effectively an all-in-one property management software package with all the tools you’ll need to digitize and streamline your rental process from start to finish. For just $48/month, this comprehensive plan includes:

• Unlimited lease protection addendums
• 2 Trust Score reports with credit check per month
• Automated rental advertising (2 per month)
• Shared management tools for up to 3 users

…plus everything in our Essentials plan.

2. Zumper

Zumper is another all-in-one rental platform that Chilliwack renters and landlords will likely encounter. In addition to its visually-appealing layout, Zumper has features to help landlords and tenants navigate every stage of the rental process, including tenant screening and rent collection.

Renters

For renters, Zumper offers a convenient way to browse and apply for listings thanks to its visually appealing layout. With that being said, the site does lack the comprehensive security and verification features of other platforms like liv.rent, though it does allow for the entire rental process to be completed within the site.

Landlords

Zumper also has a full 12/12 features, including digital contracts and rent payments and a variety of tools to help you create and share listings. The only area where the site falters is in its security protocols, which aren’t as in-depth as other platforms. Also, though it’s free to start, Zumper charges 2% of rent for landlords or property managers who have more than 10 listings, which makes it a costly option for businesses. Still, this platform’s wide range of features put it in contention for the best rental websites in Chilliwack.

3. Zillow

Zillow is primarily a platform for buying and selling real estate, but the site can also be ranked among Chilliwack’s best rental websites. The platform has a variety of tools to simplify the lives of both landlords and renters, although it’s two shy of a perfect 12. Zillow is free to start for landlords but can get costly quickly if you’re posting more than one listing due to the weekly rate.

Renters

Zillow is fairly easy to browse, thanks to a handy map view and a simple, easy-to-navigate layout. Renters can also request to book showings/submit applications directly from the listing page using pre-set forms. It’s also handy to be able to see exactly when listings were posted front and centre to save time applying to outdated posts.

Landlords

Zillow has a good range of descriptors and options for creating great-looking listings which include room for tons of photos as well as 3D tours. The site also provides a convenient neighbourhood map for all listings, in addition to an FAQ section that gives more information about the property and its location. Zillow has several convenient features for managing rentals as well, including rent payments and digital contracts, though it lacks some marketing and organizational tools.

4. Kijiji

Kijiji is a marketplace site that has also become a popular place for landlords and renters to post and find rental listings. The platform offers a basic suite of listing features including plenty of fields and filters for filling out specific details and room for lots of photos.

Renters

Kijiji is a good basic option for browsing and applying for listings, though it lacks many features that renters may look for. The site does allow for messaging within the platform which makes for much easier communication. Unfortunately, Kijiji doesn’t have much in the way of security features and provides little protection against scams.

Landlords

For landlords, Kijiji is a perfectly suitable place to post your listings due to the site’s broad audience and high traffic, though that’s about all it offers. Unlike Craigslist, Kijiji does have a chat feature for easy communication, as well as a centralized inbox for easy lead management.

5. Rentals.ca

Rentals.ca is another popular place to find and rent apartments, houses and condos, and offers a user-friendly layout as well as excellent search capabilities and an interactive map.

Renters

Rentals.ca is a great option for renters looking for the best rental websites in Chilliwack primarily because of the number of listings available. Since it’s such a popular platform, there are plenty of rentals to choose from and the site makes it easy to navigate them thanks to a split-screen map/photo view and lots of different search filters.

Landlords

Rentals.ca allows landlords to post for free, and the site offers lots of ways to customize your listing and make it stand out, including a photo gallery and neighbourhood score. Because it’s a listing site, Rentals.ca doesn’t provide features for navigating the rental process beyond inquiries.

6. PadMapper

As its name suggests, PadMapper provides an easy-to-use map view for convenient navigation, as well as a variety of search features. The site is fairly bare-bones in terms of appearance and features, but does work exceptionally well for what it does.

Renters

PadMapper lets renters browse with ease, thanks to an interactive map and various filters. As far as communications, PadMapper allows tenants to send messages with their phone number and email address to get in touch with landlords. The platform doesn’t mention any specific security or verification processes, though it does require a precise address in order to post a listing.

Landlords

PadMapper is a simple, effective way for landlords to get their listings posted quickly, though the site doesn’t offer support for much beyond inquiries. The site’s map view is extremely easy to navigate though, a feature which tenants still gravitate towards.

7. Facebook Marketplace/Groups

Facebook Groups and even Marketplace are great ways to find places to rent in Chilliwack. Though renters and landlords should exercise caution when using the platform due to the potential for fraudulent posts and users, there are plenty of local, moderated groups that allow for easy browsing and the ability to get in touch over Facebook Messenger.

Renters

Facebook has become a great option for renters to browse apartments thanks to the volume of posts, though this is also its greatest downfall. Because Facebook has never claimed to be a rental platform, the site has few checks in place for screening out scams, although many moderated groups provide a safer alternative.

Landlords

Landlords looking to reach a broad audience would do well to post their listing to Facebook due to the large number of renters browsing the platform. Though it doesn’t provide much in the way of additional features, it’s easy to get your listing posted and communicate through the built-in Messenger app.

8. Craigslist

If you’ve ever rented in Chilliwack before, you’re likely no stranger to Craigslist. The marketplace site has become an extremely popular place to post and find rental listings due to its pared-down appeal and ease of use. Though it may come out on top in terms of the number of listings available, the site lacks many of the security features renters and landlords should look for in a rental platform.

Renters

Renters can easily browse the site using a good selection of filters. For applications, Craigslist lists landlords’ email addresses and/or phone numbers for renters to get in touch. Do use caution when applying to rentals on Craigslist though – since there’s little in the way of verification, it’s not uncommon to come across rental scams on the site.

Landlords

Craigslist does provide a basic listing template including room for plenty of photos. The site also allows for a map view of each property and provides ample room for a description, as well as pre-set options for details about the unit. Renters can easily browse for rentals using a good selection of filters. For applications, Craigslist lists landlords’ email addresses and/or phone numbers for renters to get in touch.

Renters: What is the best website to find rental homes?

For renters, choosing a rental website that prioritizes your safety and security while giving you access to plenty of listings is key. When we look at both of these categories together, there’s a clear winner among the rental websites discussed here: liv.rent.

In addition to being one of the few platforms available in Chilliwack that allows renters to conduct the entire rental process online – from application to rent payment, liv.rent stands tall as the safest rental website. Not only this, liv.rent also has over 600 listings available in Chilliwack at the time of writing, which puts it solidly among the top rental websites in the area in terms of quantity.

For the hands-down best all-in-one rental platform, be sure to start your search on liv.rent.

Landlords: What is the best website to find tenants and manage your rentals?

Websites like Craigslist and Kijiji are great for landlords looking to simply post their listing and nothing more, but this isn’t usually the case. Today’s landlords look for a rental platform that allows them to perform all their essential functions in one place, and in that respect, liv.rent is the clear winner for best apartment rental website in Chilliwack

The platform’s broad range of marketing and management features put it head and shoulders above the competition, while flexible pricing plans let both landlords and property managers find an option that works for them. As well, liv.rent has a detailed verification process for tenants including the Trust Score, where you can view employment/income verification, credit checks and more in an easy-to-understand format. Best of all? It’s completely free to post unlimited listings, as well as access many liv.rent features like rent collection and standard digital contracts.

If you’re searching for an easier way to list and manage your rentals, be sure to sign up for liv.rent today.

What is the best rental website in Chilliwack?

As we stated earlier, liv.rent takes the proverbial cake for Chilliwack’s best apartment rental website due to its streamlined approach to the rental process and next-level security and safety features. The variety of different functions landlords renters can perform without leaving the platform sets liv.rent apart, like sending, receiving & signing digital leases, scheduling and paying rent through Automated Direct Deposit (or Bitcoin!), all backed by ultra-secure encryption protocols and manually verified landlords, tenants and listings. In terms of quantity and variety of listings as well, liv.rent has more than enough different rental listings to go toe-to-toe with global heavyweights like Zillow and Zumper, as well as local favourites like Craigslist.

Particularly for first-time renters, students, or those renting from abroad, using a rental platform that protects you from the stress and financial burden of scams should be your first priority. In the absence of face-to-face communication, there are plenty of opportunities for dishonest or deceitful behaviour on either end of the rental process. Our goal at liv.rent is to reduce the risk of potential scams by helping connect verified landlords & tenants to build a trusted rental community.

Start your search for Chilliwack rentals today — sign up for liv.rent for FREE and enjoy unlimited access to verified listings, trusted landlords & more.

FAQ: The best apartment rental websites in Chilliwack

How do I find a place to rent in Chilliwack?

An apartment rental website is the most common method of finding housing in Chilliwack, though some renters still prefer to look for a place to rent in person. If you do want to go digital, this list should provide a good idea of where to start your search.

We’d highly recommend starting on liv.rent, since this is the only platform on our list with verification processes for both landlords and listings, which ensures you’re protected from costly rental scams.

What is the best site to find a rental?

Again, our vote would have to go to liv.rent. With plenty of listings in the city of Chilliwack and surrounding areas and a complete 12/12 features, not to mention its unique safety features, this all-in-one rental platform is the best site to find a rental in Chilliwack.

Where is the best place to advertise a rental?

For landlords as well, liv.rent is the best option for listing and advertising rentals in Chilliwack thanks to its easy listing sharing and features like built-in tenant screening with the Trust Score.

Is it hard to find a place to rent in Chilliwack?

There are many factors that go into determining how easy or hard it might be to secure rental housing, such as competition, vacancy rates, and the time of year. In general, renters will have a tougher time finding a place to rent in Chilliwack during the summer months and into the fall as students return to school, while the winter months are typically a bit slower with less competition, but scarcer units.

How do I advertise a place to rent?

Once you’ve posted your listing online, your best strategy for advertising your listing and renting it as quickly as possible is by sharing it to multiple platforms. You can read liv.rent’s guide to effectively advertising your rental property here for more helpful tips.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post The Top 8 Apartment Rental Websites In Chilliwack appeared first on liv.rent blog.

What is Multi-platform Advertising?

Multi-platform advertising from liv.rent is a convenient marketing solution for busy landlords. Available as part of our Growth and Business plans for landlords or on an add-on basis through our Credit Usage system, Multi-platform Advertising involves sharing your listing to Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other platforms, with our team managing all inquiries from these platforms and directing applicants back to liv.rent where you can message them directly and sign a lease.

Benefits of Multi-platform Advertising

For landlords looking to find qualified tenants fast, Multi-platform Advertising is an affordable and efficient solution that helps cut down on your time spent posting listings and responding to inquiries.

Here are some of the main benefits of Multi-platform Advertising:

1. Increased Visibility: By utilizing Multi-platform Advertising, landlords can significantly expand the reach of their property listings. Sharing listings on popular platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist ensures that the properties are seen by a wider audience, increasing the chances of finding suitable tenants.
2. Time Savings: Instead of manually posting listings on multiple platforms and managing inquiries separately, our team will handle everything seamlessly to save you time. Landlords can focus on other aspects of managing their properties while we take care of the advertising.
3. Centralized management: liv.rent acts as a centralized ‘hub’ for managing inquiries from various sources. Landlords no longer need to juggle between different platforms to respond to inquiries and track applications. From listing to signing and receiving rent payments, everything can be done through liv.rent – providing a hassle-free experience.
4. Better applicant experience: Applicants will submit their application directly on liv.rent, which has numerous benefits for renters such as built-in safety features and a centralized inbox for communicating with landlords. Landlords benefit from a more qualified applicant pool as only interested renters will apply through their liv.rent listing.
5. Cost-Effectiveness: Multi-platform Advertising offers excellent value for landlords. Compared to traditional advertising methods or hiring third-party services, this affordable solution allows landlords to reach a broader audience without breaking the bank.

How to find tenants with Multi-platform Advertising

Landlords can easily utilize this time-saving feature by upgrading their pricing plan or purchasing and redeeming add-on credits through the platform. Here, we’ll walk you through the different ways landlords can unlock Multi-platform Advertising.

Upgrading your landlord plan

In addition to a free Essentials plan, liv.rent offers Growth and Business plans for landlords looking to further automate their rental process and grow their business. These premium plans include access to Multi-platform Advertising, plus other tools like Trust Score tenant screening reports, lease protection addendums, and multiple user seats.

To upgrade your landlord plan, simply head to liv.rent/pricing to compare plans and features, then select ‘Get Started’ under the plan that best fits your needs. Then, you can either upgrade your profile or create a new account to get started with your new plan. In terms of Multi-platform Advertising credits, Growth users receive 2 credits per month, while Business users receive 6 per month.

For any pricing inquiries or to request a demo, feel free to get in touch with us at sales@liv.rent.

Purchasing add-on credits

The other way landlords can unlock Multi-platform Advertising is through a new flexible Credit Usage system. Through this system, landlords can purchase single-use credits for a variety of premium liv.rent features including Sponsored Listings, Trust Score tenant screening reports, and Multi-platform Advertising.

Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of how to purchase and redeem credits on liv.rent:

1. Post a listing & get verified

To get started with Multi-platform Advertising, you’ll first need to ensure you have an active liv.rent listing. Posting a listing is completely free with an Essentials plan.

You’ll also need to make sure that both your profile and listing are verified before you can use Multi-platform Advertising. Getting verified is easy and your personal information is stored securely throughout the process and deleted once verification is complete

2. Navigate to the Credit Usage page and purchase credits

Find the Credit Usage Page on the left-hand side of your screen while logged in to liv.rent. From here, simply navigate to the ‘Rental Advertising’ section to find Multi-platform Advertising. Here, you can purchase credits or click ‘Learn more’ for more information on any add-on features.

Activating Multi-platform Advertising

Once you’ve either upgraded your landlord plan or purchased add-on credits, you’re ready to activate Multi-platform Advertising for your listing.

From the Credit Usage page, click ‘Use Credit’.

Select the listing you’d like shared.

Customize the platforms you’d like your listing shared to, and select the duration.

Here, you can see how many credits will be used. Once everything looks good, hit continue to proceed. Here you can confirm the transaction and begin the Multi-platform Advertising.

FAQ: How to find tenants with Multi-platform Advertising

Can I view my listings on shared platforms?

There is no built-in way to view your shared listings on other platforms, but feel free to reach out to our Support Team once your listing has been advertised and we can provide links upon request.

What happens to shared listings if I update my liv.rent listing?

When any changes are made to your liv.rent listing, our team automatically receives a notification regarding the updated information. Our team will update the shared ads on external platforms accordingly, typically within 24 hours if received during our business hours. 

How does Multi-platform Advertising work?

When you use a Multi-platform Advertising credit to share your listing, our team will share your listing to your choice of platforms including Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Our team will also help respond to any inquiries received from other platforms and redirect them back to your liv.rent listing.

Landlords can follow the steps outlined in this article to start syndicating their listings with Multi-platform Advertising.

How will I receive inquiries?

Any inquiries received on the syndicated listings will be responded to by the liv.rent team. Within our response, our team will provide instructions and redirect the potential tenant to reach out directly on your liv.rent listing. You will simply need to monitor your liv.rent messages for any potential incoming leads.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post How to find qualified tenants fast with multi-platform advertising appeared first on liv.rent blog.

What are Credits?

Within the liv.rent platform, credits are a form of digital currency which landlords & property managers can use to unlock additional features. Credits for certain features come pre-loaded in our Growth and Business plans, while users on our free Essentials plan can purchase add-on features on an ‘à la carte’ basis.

Landlords can access a variety of time-saving features and renting solutions through the credit system. These features were designed to provide an extra boost to your productivity, helping you find reliable tenants and manage your listings more efficiently and effectively.

Here are brief explanations of some of the features that can be unlocked either through credits or liv.rent’s premium Landlord Plans.

• Tenant Screening Report — The Trust Score gives landlords a comprehensive report on applicants’ suitability complete with Equifax® credit information, income & employment verification documents, a detailed risk assessment, and more.
• Sponsored Listings — Sponsored Listings help boost your inquiries and applications when you need it most with front & centre placement on our listing pages. Starting at just $1.72/day, landlords can customize when, and for how long their Sponsored Listings appear to deliver maximum results at crucial times.
• Automated Multi-Platform Advertising — Your listing will be shared to popular rental platforms like Craigslist and Facebook and our team will manage all inquiries.
• Monthly Analytics Report — View a detailed report of your listing’s performance with metrics that will help you reach more renters.
• Company Landing Page — A Company Landing Page displays all your business’ listings in one convenient location with customized branding to stand out from the competition. There are two types of company landing pages on liv.rent: Standard for Growth users and Custom for landlords on our Business plan. Only Custom Company Landing Pages display customized branding for your business.
• Addendums by liv.rent — Use pre-loaded, lawyer-vetted lease addendums to bulletproof your contracts and add details to smoking, pet, and parking policies plus more. For Business users, Custom Addendums allows you to upload your own existing addendums for use directly on liv.rent.

The liv.rent Credit Usage system explained

The new Credit Usage system makes it easier to access premium features with more ways to pay for the solutions you need. Here’s how landlords can access & view their credits, purchase additional credits, and use them to unlock features.

Accessing the Credit Usage page

Landlords can learn more about and unlock additional features for their listings by navigating to the Credit Usage page located on the left sidebar. Here, Growth and Business users can see the features available through their Landlord Plan by using the My Products tab, as well as a list of all available features under the All Products tab. For convenience, this can also be sorted into Tenant Screening, Rental Advertising, and Leases & Payments sections.

Purchasing credits

Growth & Business Plans

For landlords and property managers on liv.rent’s Growth or Business plans, you’ll notice that some features are already unlocked in the My Products tab. You can also view how many credits you have available and use remaining credits to unlock certain features. Credits included in premium plans reset each month on your billing date, but you can purchase more credits as needed if you use your included credits.

Essentials Plan

For users on liv.rent’s free Essentials Plan, you can unlock additional features like Tenant Screening Reports or Sponsored Listings on a pay-per-use basis. Once you click “Buy more” you’ll be redirected to a payment screen to complete your purchase. Additional features under the All Products tab can be unlocked by upgrading your plan and/or contacting sales.

How to use credits

To use your available credits, simply follow the instructions next to each feature. Some features can be unlocked by clicking “Use Credit” while for others you’ll need to contact our Support Team to set them up.

For example, clicking on Sponsored Listings will take you to a screen that allows you to select which listing you’d like to use your credit on. Similarly, clicking on Tenant Screening Reports will take you to your Applications page for you to select a tenant, and Addendums will take you to the Contract section of your Landlord Dashboard.

Which Landlord Plan is right for you?

Landlords on liv.rent can post unlimited listings, message renters, sign standard digital leases, and collect rent for free with liv.rent’s Essentials Plan, and can access premium features like Automated Multi-Platform Advertising and Trust Score tenant screening reports on a pay-per-use basis.

For landlords and property managers looking to further streamline their rental process and gain access to features used by top professionals, liv.rent’s new premium plans are here to make renting even easier. Both the Growth and business plans include credits each month that can be used to unlock additional tenant screening & advertising solutions – plus unlimited access to addendums (standard for Growth users, custom for Business), and more.

You can compare different liv.rent plans here to find the right option for your rental business.

How liv.rent’s premium features help get listings rented faster

Now with new ‘à la carte’ purchasing options, liv.rent’s advanced time-saving features are more accessible to landlords at all levels, giving you access to the same tools used by professionals.

Whether your listing could use a boost with Automated Multi-Platform Advertising or you’re hoping to identify the perfect tenant through the Trust Score, our technology-driven features help streamline time-consuming tasks and make renting easier, safer, and more convenient for landlords.

You can read more about some of our top features in the articles below.

• How liv.rent’s Sponsored Listings fill vacancies faster
• The Trust Score: Explained For Landlords
• Common Lease Addendums And How To Use Them

Learn more and upgrade your landlord plan at liv.rent/pricing.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post Rent your listing faster with premium liv.rent features appeared first on liv.rent blog.

Why liv.rent verifies income and employment

In an effort to stop fraudulent users and keep renters safe from rental scams on the liv.rent platform, our team carefully verifies user-submitted documents to confirm that each verified listing exists, and is owned by the landlord who posted it. To give landlords the same peace of mind, we ask that renters upload documents that establish key information such as their employment status and income bracket to confirm a match with what they’ve specified in their profile.

We believe that mutual trust is a hugely important factor that’s often missing from the rental process, and multi-layered verification measures are our way of ensuring both landlords and renters are protected at all times.

How we verify employment

The exact process for verifying your employment on liv.rent varies depending on your employment status. We ask for different documents for renters who are self-employed, students, employed, or unemployed, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the requirements for each category below to ensure you’re providing the necessary information.

In general, here are a few universal requirements for all employment verification documents uploaded to liv.rent:

• All documents must clearly display your full legal name
• If dated, the document must be from within the last 3 months, or the most recent tax year

Below, you can find a list of the documents we accept for each type of employment.

1. Self-employed

Self-employed individuals can verify their employment by uploading any of the following documents:

• Tax statements (this is the best, most accurate way to verify your self-employment)
• Business License
• Business Card
• A screenshot of your earnings dashboard (your full name & the date must be clearly displayed)

2. Students

You can verify your status as a student by uploading any of the following documents:

• Proof of enrollment
• Student ID
• Acceptance letter
• Statement of paid tuition fees (must be from the most recent semester)

3. Employed

For renters who are currently employed in various professions, whether part-time or full-time, you have the following options for verifying your employment status:

• Business Card (must contain employer’s name)
• Job Offer Letter (must contain employer’s name)
• Pay slip (must contain employer’s name)
• Tax statement (e.g. Notice of Assessment, T4)
• Bank statement (showing monthly deposits, matching salary bracket with employer’s name)

4. Unemployed

Renters are not asked to provide employment documents when they select the option that says they are Unemployed. 

How we verify income

To further establish renters’ ability to make rent payments in full and on time, we also request that you upload relevant documentation to confirm the income bracket specified in your profile. Renters are encouraged to keep in mind the 30% rule when applying to rent a unit – that is, they should be spending no more than 30% of their annual income towards rent.

When uploading their verification documents, renters can choose to select whether they have No income, Can prepay 12 months’ rent, or one of the various Salary brackets that matches their income. Regardless of which option you select, there are some general rules we ask renters to follow:

• All documents must display your full legal name (or the name of your financial supporter, if you’ll have help paying your rent) 
• If dated, the document must be from within the last 3 months, or the most recent tax year
• Monetary values must be displayed in either CAD or USD, or edited to indicate a conversion equivalent in CAD/USD.

Pro-tip: You can use liv.rent’s built-in markup tool to indicate this within the platform. When uploading your income verification documents, you’ll also find a link to a website where you can obtain current exchange rates.

There are also additional guidelines renters must adhere to, depending which income status they select during the verification process:

1. No income

Renters that specify they receive no income must still prove that they have sufficient funds to pay rent on time. Here are some examples of documents we accept to establish proof of funds:

• Student Loans
• Proof of financial Aid (from parent, guardian, etc.)
• Statements from a savings account showing regular deposits or a large lump sum
• Statements from investment accounts (with fast liquidity) 

Pro-tip: As a general guideline, we recommend that renters who specify “No income” be able to show a balance that meets or exceeds the minimum set by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada

2. “I can prepay 12 months rent”

For renters that select this option, we require documents that display enough funds to prepay 6-12 months rent. This can vary based on the rent price of the specific unit, in which case we generally defer to the Proof of Funds requirements set out by IRCC. For this option, we accept the same types of documents as above:

• Student Loans
• Proof of financial Aid (from parent, guardian, etc.)
• Statements from a savings account showing regular deposits or a large lump sum
• Statements from investment accounts (with fast liquidity) 

3. Various salary brackets

For renters who select one of the provided salary brackets for their annual income, we require documents that clearly show proof of funds that matches the amount specified. Here are some examples of accepted documents:

• Tax statements
• Pay stubs
• Job offer letters
• Bank statement showing monthly deposits matching salary bracket with employer’s name 

Common reasons we decline income & employment verification documents

Each month, our team analyzes over 2,000 user-submitted documents as part of our effort to uphold our strict verification standards. On average, 35% of those documents are declined, or need to be amended for various reasons.

To ensure that your verification process is as smooth & easy as possible, here are some of the most common reasons we must decline income & employment documents:

General reasons for rejecting documents

1. The document doesn’t display the renter’s full name/match the name on their profile  
   • For renters who indicate that they are a student, we reject documents if there is no markup or letter indicating that their parents will be financially supporting them
   • We also reject documents that display the spouse’s name (if the spouse is the only provider)
   • The name on the document is not displayed in English 
2. The document isn’t recent enough (from within the last 3 months or the most recent tax year) 
3. The document does not display the required information to establish income or employment 
   • Income isn’t clearly proven within the document 
   • e.g. Job offer is cut off, deposits are not shown, or only one invoice is shown for renters who state that they are self-employed  
   • Employment isn’t clear proven within the document 
   • The document does not clearly display a place of employment matching what was specified in their profile 
4. Different employers are indicated between income and employment documents 

Reasons for rejecting income verification documents

1. The document doesn’t match the specified income bracket
   • Documents don’t display sufficient funds when the renter selects ‘no income’ or ‘I can prepay 12 months’ rent”
   • The renter uploaded a T4 for a job that began partway through the year and doesn’t reflect their full salary  
2. Income isn’t clearly proven within the document
   • The document doesn’t display dollar amounts CAD/USD  
   • Bank statements show proof of funds in a different currency 
   • Pay slips from the tenant’s current job abroad are provided in a different currency 

Pro-tip: If you aren’t keeping your job after moving to Canada, you should select the “Unemployed” option instead

Pro-tip: In this case, renters should select one of the other two options and send the same document with the lump sum

1. A cheque was uploaded with no date range specified – this is often the case with self-employed renters
2. Bank statements show various payments that don’t adequately reflect the specified income bracket
   • e.g. A self-employed renter uploading bank statements that show various payments, not indicating a stable amount received each month. In this case, we would require the renter to upload tax statements instead.

How liv.rent protects your data

We apply strict precautions to protect the security and integrity of your personal information, both during transmission and storage. Transmissions of personal information through the Website are encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL), and all personal data stored on liv.rent are secured with AES-256-CTR (similar to military-grade encryption).

In regards to your government-issued ID and any authentication information requested during liv.rent’s verification process, our system will immediately remove all copies in a secured manner once you have been verified. This ensures that none of your personal data will be made public.

Questions about liv.rent’s verification process? You can read more about how and why we verify users in an article here, or get in touch with us at support@liv.rent with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post How to verify your income & employment on liv.rent appeared first on liv.rent blog.

The numbers

Background

The landlord

“As an all-in-one rental platform, liv.rent was really designed to save both landlords and tenants time & stress, while simultaneously keeping them safe.”

Olivia Lam, Founder of liv.rent

• Number of listings managed: 5
• Rental platforms used previously: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, VanSky, VanPeople, Little Red Book
• Management software used currently: liv.rent
• Primary concerns: Efficiency, protecting the property, finding a suitable match

Olivia maintains 5 rental properties across Metro Vancouver, which can quickly become a time-consuming addition to an already busy schedule. For her, the rental process is all about minimizing stress while ensuring that her unit is filled with qualified tenants who won’t cause problems later on.

Prior to founding liv.rent, Olivia had been manually posting her listings on a variety of popular listing platforms, as well as local rental groups.

As with many landlords, she became frustrated with the time-consuming nature of the rental process – especially given the number of applicants she had for each of her five properties. Aware of the pressing danger of rental scams, Olivia was cautious to carefully screen each renter that applied to avoid missed payments and costly damage to her rental properties, while also making ongoing management of the units easier by ensuring vacancies were filled with tenants she could trust.

Challenge #1: Streamlining the application & pre-screening process

“Some days I’d receive 30-40, even upwards of 60 applications for a single unit. Being able to access all of these applications in one place was a huge time-saver.“

Olivia Lam, Founder of liv.rent

One of Olivia’s biggest frustrations with the rental process prior to founding liv.rent was having her email inbox clogged with rental applications. With multiple businesses to run and a jam-packed calendar, she felt like she couldn’t give each application the attention it deserved since there were simply so many to keep track of.

Solution: Centralizing leads on liv.rent

After consulting the latest rental data to get a sense of the market, Olivia began her rental process in earnest by creating a liv.rent listing and sharing it to a variety of other platforms in order to reach more qualified renters. For Olivia, the more prospective tenants she could reach, the better.

Directly through liv.rent, Olivia was able to share her listing to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji with built-in marketing tools. Through this feature, she was able to easily transpose the entire listing including photos, already pre-formatted for other sites.

Since Olivia has had great experiences renting to international renters in the past, she also manually shared her postings to other platforms such as VanSky, VanPeople, and Little Red Book. With the help of the Trust Score, liv.rent’s tenant screening tool, she was able to look beyond credit information and accurately evaluate & consider other groups of renters whose applications may be overlooked by many landlords.

Each of these shared listings contained a link to the original listing on liv.rent, plus instructions for how to apply. As other landlords have done, Olivia used this opportunity as a “pre-screening” step to get a sense of how well applicants could follow directions and whether or not they were interested enough to make the effort.

Challenge #2: Getting applicants to complete their Trust Score

Once they had signed up for liv.rent, Olivia also asked applicants to get a Trust Score through the platform to aid in her decision-making.

While most applicants were more than happy to complete their liv.rent profile and get a Trust Score rating, some renters were understandably wary to enter that much personal information online. Some had concerns about how their data would be used, why it was necessary to provide it, and what measures were in place to protect it.

Solution: Emphasizing transparency & security

“Being a landlord is a lot different today than when I first started renting out property. Due to increases in scams and reports of troublesome tenants, I have to be more cautious than ever now – which is why most landlords ask for so much documentation.”

Olivia Lam, Founder of liv.rent

For Olivia, getting a complete picture of applicants is a necessity. To reduce turnover and create successful, lasting landlord-tenant relationships, it’s extremely important for Olivia to cultivate trust & transparency from the get-go.

Trust is a two-way street though, which is why Olivia made sure to point out to hesitant applicants that she had already been verified through liv.rent’s multi-layered process. She also highlighted the industry-leading data security procedures that protect all liv.rent users’ information – including important documents uploaded for verification purposes.

When prospective tenants expressed reluctance at providing things like their driver’s license and credit history, Olivia explained that all user information, including everything that is submitted to generate a Trust Score report, is stored securely in the cloud and protected by military-grade encryption protocols. For those who required further explanation, she made sure to link them to liv.rent’s Privacy Policy to quell any lingering doubts.

By this point, nearly every renter felt confident providing the required information and Olivia was able to proceed with her tenant screening process using the Trust Score.

Challenge #3: Making a final decision

“Deciding which renter(s) to choose during the end stages is always very difficult for me. I typically favourite applications that stand out so that our conversations are easily accessible, but in most cases, there are multiple applicants who I think would make great tenants”

Olivia Lam, Founder of liv.rent

Since some of Olivia’s rental properties are on the higher end in terms of rent price, her primary concern was finding tenants who could reasonably afford to pay rent on time with no foreseeable problems.

Even with the current market conditions, there was no shortage of applicants whose financial situation seemed suited to the listing they were applying for, so Olivia had to rely on the Trust Score to provide more insight into each applicant’s rental history and overall patterns as a tenant, and more importantly as an individual.

Solution: Going beyond finances with the Trust Score

Using her most recent listing as an example, Olivia had narrowed the field to three sets of candidates: a young couple, a graduate student moving from abroad, and a single professional. All of these applicants had complete profiles on liv.rent and plenty of supporting documents that clearly showcased their rental history. Even though the international student didn’t yet have a credit history in Canada, they were able to provide proof of funds that adequately proved their ability to make rent payments.

Faced with three excellent options for future tenants, Olivia had to look more in-depth at each of their Trust Score reports to find the perfect fit for the property in question.

Beyond vital information like applicants’ Credit Summary, Risk Assessment, and Income-to-rent Ratio, Olivia paid particular attention to each renter’s Trustworthiness score, making sure to view the documents they had submitted as an added layer of protection.

Ultimately, while the Trust Score played an integral role in creating a “shortlist” of qualified applicants, the final decision came down to who was the best match for this particular property, since each applicant was equally well-suited financially.

After speaking to each of the prospective tenants in-person at scheduled showings as well as online through liv.rent’s Instant Chat, Olivia decided to proceed with the young professional, who had an excellent financial history and seemed like the best fit for the building and neighbourhood.

In brief

With 5 rental properties and a significant investment on the line, the importance of an efficient and all-encompassing tenant screening process was magnified in this case.

Here’s a quick summary of the steps Olivia followed to ensure she was connecting with qualified renters at every step of the rental process:

1. Sharing to multiple platforms: Using both built-in sharing features as well as reaching an additional audience through manual sharing, Olivia was able to ensure that her listing was put in front of more renters. Expecting a high volume of applications, she also took steps to streamline the process from the outset by directing all interested renters to liv.rent – where she could see all their information in one place, communicate directly, and also favourite applications to ensure they don’t get lost throughout the lengthy rental process.
2. Prioritizing mutual trust at every stage: In this digital age, landlords necessarily require a lot of information about tenants in order to make informed and accurate screening decisions. However, Olivia was also keenly aware that tenants are particularly concerned about rental scams and took measures to promote two-way transparency right from posting her listing. By verifying her profile and listings and reassuring renters about the safety of their information, she was able to do her due diligence while also ensuring applicants knew they were in a safe situation.
3. Looking beyond traditional credit checks – For nearly every landlord, finding tenants who are able to pay rent in full and on time is usually priority #1. When there are multiple applicants who all meet your financial criteria though, landlords & property managers need additional information to reference in order to make a final decision. In Olivia’s case, her choice often comes down to a number of equally suitable renters, in which case she looks at additional information like their Detailed Risk Assessment and Trustworthiness in order to get a complete understanding of who she’ll be renting to.

Takeaways from this case

Olivia’s rental process showcases how landlords can make well-informed tenant screening decisions and save time without compromising renter safety in the process.

Here are some key takeaways from this case study:

1. All-in-one solutions make managing multiple properties possible — From beginning to end, Olivia was able to use the liv.rent platform as her one-stop hub for all relevant communications, applications, showings, and even contracts & rent payments.
2. Doing your due diligence makes for stress-free tenancies — For landlords & property managers renting out multiple units, ensuring each vacancy is filled promptly with trustworthy tenants is paramount. Though it may require additional effort upfront, the countless hours saved from dealing with troublesome occupants is well worth it.
3. Trust is a two-way street — While landlords need to ask for a lot of information throughout the application process, it’s important to remember that today’s renters are hyper-aware of rental scams. Taking the time to verify your profile and listings is an excellent first step towards building a relationship of trust & transparency.

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The post Landlord Case Study: How to streamline tenant screening for multiple rental properties appeared first on liv.rent blog.

Why it’s important to get a tenant’s credit report

Doing your due diligence when it comes to selecting tenants is an integral part of the rental process. After all, you’re essentially inviting strangers to live on your property – which doesn’t come without risk.

In order to evaluate both the financial suitability and trustworthiness of applicants, credit checks have become an indispensable tool for landlords and property managers to screen tenants. A tenant credit check can provide you with valuable information on an applicant’s credit history, borrowing patterns, and overall reliability. By reviewing this information, you can make an informed decision on whether to accept or reject a rental application.

The main purpose here is to protect your investment and minimize the risk that comes with renting. By choosing to rent to applicants with a strong credit score and a good history of making payments on time, you’re cutting down on your chances of late or missed rent payments, or worse.

How much does an untrustworthy tenant cost?

Troublesome tenants don’t just take an emotional toll on you, they can also seriously impact your financial situation and turn your profitable rental business into a costly burden. It’s not just missed rent payments that landlords have to worry about, either. In addition to causing you to lose out on potential revenue, untrustworthy tenants can add a ton of unforeseen expenses to your operations by causing significant damage to the unit, scaring off neighbours, and refusing to move out.

Here’s a sample breakdown of what an untrustworthy tenant could cost you, in a worst-case scenario:

• Damage to interior finishes — $3,300 ($300 for drywall repairs, $3,000 for painting)
• Missed rent payments — $2,500 (approximate average monthly rent for a 1 br. unit in Vancouver or Downtown Toronto)
• Plumbing repairs — $390
• Unhappy neighbours/other tenants leaving — $2,500
• Eviction / legal fees — $1,050)
• Vacant unit — $2,500

Total: $12,240

Bear in mind that this is just an estimate, and is based on a situation where the tenant not only misses rent payments, but also causes damage and major disturbances to other tenants. Still, this worst-case scenario can quickly become a reality if landlords aren’t proactive about their tenant screening.

How to get a tenant’s credit check in Canada

Credit information in Canada typically comes from one of the country’s two major credit bureaus: Equifax® or TransUnion®. There are a few ways landlords can obtain this information:

• Directly from a credit bureau — With applicants’ consent, landlords can grab a credit report from either of Canada’s two major credit bureaus
• Through a tenant screening service — Tools like liv.rent’s Trust Score allow you to quickly & easily access applicants’ credit history, often including additional information as well – like income & employment verification documents, court records, and a detailed risk assessment in the case of the Trust Score.
• Asking the tenant to provide a credit report — It’s also common for landlords to ask tenants to purchase a credit report themselves and provide a copy with their application.
• Using a property management company — Some busy landlords opt to use a property management company for handling their rental properties. These professionals will also take care of tenant screening for you using one of the above methods.

What information does a tenant credit check include?

A tenant credit check in Canada is primarily used to evaluate a tenant’s financial suitability based on their spending habits and debt levels. This takes the form of a credit report that summarizes their credit history, including:

• Credit score
• Any outstanding debts, loans or bankruptcies
• Payment history on loans, credit cards, and other financial obligations

The Trust Score from liv.rent also includes additional information, like:

• Employment history and income details
• Court records or other details
• Risk assessment

How much does a tenant credit check cost in Canada?

The cost of a tenant credit check in Canada varies greatly depending on the method used to obtain it. Getting this information can be free to landlords if they request that tenants pay for and provide their own credit report, however there are plenty of different ways to get this information on your own at varying price points.

Typically, a tenant credit check will cost $10-30 per report from either Equifax® or TransUnion®, with prices varying greatly depending on the level of detail and the specific package purchased.

If you’re using a third-party tenant screening service, prices similarly range from about $15 per report, to monthly and yearly payment plans that offer several included reports for a given period. The section below will provide a more detailed overview of the different credit check options available to Canadian landlords, including pricing for each.

The best credit check tools for Canadian landlords

1. liv.rent

The Trust Score from liv.rent goes beyond credit checks to give a complete understanding of applicants’ suitability. As you can see from the chart above, liv.rent provides landlords & property managers with information that isn’t found on a traditional tenant credit check, all condensed into an easy-to-read score for filtering out unqualified applicants at a glance.

Individual landlords can choose between a variety of flexible pricing options. With a free Essentials Plan, you can add on a Trust Score report for just $16.99, or you can opt to enroll in liv.rent’s Growth Plan to receive 2 included Trust Score reports per month, plus a variety of other time-saving features like lease protection addendums and automated multi-platform advertising for up to 2 units.

This innovative tenant screening feature provides greater security for renters, as their Equifax® credit info and uploaded photo ID are only stored until their Trust Score has been calculated, at which point this data is securely deleted by the server.

Here is a sample Trust Score report:

How to unlock the Trust Score

The Trust Score is available even for tenants applying from outside of liv.rent. All landlords need is a verified profile to generate Trust Score reports – no liv.rent listing or tenant application is required.

Follow the steps below to unlock Trust Score reports for tenants applying both from within and outside of the liv.rent platform:

1. For liv.rent renters
   • Create a liv.rent listing
   • Ensure that both your ID and listing are verified
   • Once you receive an application from a renter whose Trust Score report you’d like to view, click “Unlock Trust Score”
   • Redeem a Tenant Screening Report credit or complete payment to unlock the full Trust Score report
2. For tenants outside of liv.rent
   • Sign up for a liv.rent Landlord account
   • Verify your ID
   • Navigate to the “Trust Score” tab on left-hand side of your Landlord Dashboard while logged in
   • Follow the prompts to submit the applicant’s information and complete payment

Note: Landlords generating a trust score on an applicant’s behalf must first obtain their written consent to perform a credit check. You can do this by downloading and completing this Tenant Consent Form.

How to read the Trust Score

The Trust Score is broken down into sections to give landlords a complete overview of prospective tenants’ reliability. For a quick guide on how to read and understand an applicant’s Trust Score report, you can watch this short how-to video.

Does the Trust Score impact the tenant’s credit score?

The Trust Score gathers information from renters’ Equifax® credit reports and will appear as an inquiry on their credit file. This will impact their overall credit score, however the impact will not be significant since the Trust Score is not an application for credit.

A new credit inquiry is conducted whenever a landlord unlocks a renter’s Trust Score. Multiple inquiries within a short period generally count as one credit check, so when renters apply for numerous listings they are unlikely to see multiple inquiries on their credit history.

2. SingleKey

SingleKey offers a simple platform that provides detailed reports using information from Equifax® credit checks. Where SingleKey sets itself apart is in its speed. The site advertises a less than five-minute processing time for a tenant credit check, which allows landlords to get the answers they’re looking for faster than getting it directly from a credit bureau.

However, this speed can’t compete with the instant response given by liv.rent through the Trust Score feature, which allows landlords to instantly view necessary renter information the moment they apply to a listing.

In terms of information, SingleKey offers a similarly comprehensive overview to other top options, combining an overall Tenant Score with a broken-down series of metrics that display the most pertinent information for landlords. The platform also gives users the ability to pay as you go, at a cost of $25 per report.

3. Naborly

Naborly is another popular option for screening tenants, also relying on Equifax® for the bulk of its information. Similar to liv.rent, Naborly provides landlords with a single score that factors in data like employment history, court records, and credit information to paint a picture of the applicant as an individual and as a tenant. Naborly also makes it easy to get approval for these checks with a built-in application process

Some landlords may also prefer the flexibility Naborly offers, as there is a flat rate of $25/check with no additional membership or subscription fees. It’s worth noting though that Naborly is intended to be used solely for tenant screening, and doesn’t offer the additional functionality provided by all-in-one rental platforms like liv.rent.

4. FrontLobby

FrontLobby is unique in that it allows landlords to report tenants’ rent payments to Equifax®, helping to establish renters’ reliability while giving fellow rental managers an additional metric to look at. Additionally, landlords can purchase add-on credit and background checks, at varying prices based on the plan chosen.

For the most part, these checks are standard credit reports, although the rent reporting feature and additional functionality FrontLobby offers make it an intriguing choice for some landlords. With that being said, these features are only available through the platform’s paid plans, which still require landlords to pay add-on fees for credit and background checks.

5. TransUnion SmartMove

TransUnion®’s SmartMove service is another popular option for Canadian landlords that distinguishes itself on its speed and ease of use. After registering, landlords can directly send a request for a credit check to tenants. Once they’ve completed their application, you can see the applicant’s information in minutes – including their credit check, criminal & eviction history, and income insights.

All this information is contained within their ResidentScore™ feature which will also help with quick decision-making. The $25 per report price point is standard compared to other options listed here, however it’s worth noting that this is for their SmartCheck Basic Report, which only includes applicants’ credit-based ResidentScore™ and a criminal background report. For a full credit report, landlords will need to pay $39.99 for SmartCheck Plus.

6. Equifax

Equifax® remains one of the most popular tenant credit check platforms in Canada since many landlords prefer to get reports from the bureau itself. This is a standard credit report and doesn’t contain much of the information found within some of the other options here that are designed specifically for landlords.

Still, Equifax® offers great flexibility in terms of pricing, as landlords can also opt to have tenants pull their own credit report, which can be free using a trial for the service. For the most complete information, Equifax® recommends using their Complete™ Premier plan, which costs $19.95/month.

What makes the Trust Score from liv.rent unique

The Trust Score enables Canadian landlords to find the right renters quickly and easily, going beyond a credit check to provide a complete picture of applicants’ suitability.

We’ve recently upgraded the Trust Score to include additional information, giving landlords & property managers even more tools to make important tenant screening decisions. Alongside these changes, we’ve implemented new, flexible pricing options to suit a variety of rental management needs – including the option to purchase add-on reports for just $16.99 each.

With any renters that apply to their listings, landlords will be able to see:

• The number of accounts checked to qualify their payment record
• Collections record
• Bankruptcy index
• Income-to-rent ratio
• Credit utilization
• Income & Employment verification documents
• A detailed risk assessment
• & much more

This score is immediately available to unlock & view for any applicants who have already completed their profile and been given a Trust Score, allowing you to evaluate renters faster.

Click here to learn more about how the Trust Score can help you find qualified renters and manage risk in your rental property.

FAQ: How to do a credit check on tenants

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The post How to do a credit check on a tenant appeared first on liv.rent blog.

Hi everybody! My name is Matisse and I work here at liv.rent as the Marketing Manager. I rent out three properties and use liv.rent to manage them and find my tenants. Recently, I successfully rented out a 3 bed, 3 bath listing in Vancouver in less than 10 days from the listing to the contract being signed. During this time, I received more than 90 inquiries and 50 applications for my apartment. 

I’ll be going through exactly what I did and how you can use the features available within liv.rent to simplify the tenant search and screening process and rent out your apartment fast.

How can I find a tenant faster?

Like most landlords, I’m extremely busy and always looking for ways to do more on the go. My favourite thing about liv.rent is that I can do everything on my phone and cut out a lot of the time that’s usually wasted during the rental process. This allows me to find qualified renters faster, with less time and energy spent on my end.

To break it down, my flow essentially consisted of four simple steps:

1. Share your listing to multiple sites to reach more tenants
2. Use liv.rent as my rental hub
3. Screen candidates using liv.rent
4. Send video tours and book time slots

I’ll be going over what each of those steps looks like and how to rent out an apartment fast using liv.rent.

Share your listing to reach more tenants

To reach more qualified tenants, it’s important to cast a wide net. Thankfully, liv.rent makes it easy to advertise your listing on multiple sites so that you can reach as many interested renters as possible.

This was relatively easy for me as I’m part of a lot of different Facebook groups, but it also led to a barrage of messages from tenants. I received 150+ inquiries in total, which was great for getting leads, but I needed a way to filter out the really interested candidates.

If you’ve used Facebook Marketplace in the past, you know that about 95% of the messages you receive are the standard “Hi, is this still available?”. I didn’t have time to go through and reply to every single message, so instead I directed all interested applicants to my liv.rent listing and communicated there. This is essentially your first screening step as it eliminates the candidates who aren’t committed, while also organizing all your communications into one convenient location.

Use liv.rent as your rental hub

Once my listing was up and running, I started receiving messages on Facebook Messenger instantly. Whenever this happened, I would direct the candidate to message me and apply on liv.rent. This is important because I don’t want to continue any communication on Facebook – it’s a better way for me to organize my chats and keep all the communication and documents in one place. 

No matter where you post or advertise your listing to, you want to direct all your leads back to liv.rent (I call it my rental hub) and tell them to apply there. From there, I received over 50+ applications which was quite overwhelming. So, what I ended up doing was going through each application and short-listing or favouriting my top applicants. 

Screen tenants and create a short-list using liv.rent

Once I have a good number of applicants on liv.rent, my next task is filtering out any renters who don’t seem 100% interested in moving forward with my listing, and also any renters who don’t fit my requirements. I’m looking for someone who will take care of my unit, respectful of noise levels, and of course, can pay their rent on time. 

With this in mind, I created a tenant screening flow using liv.rent to help me save time and streamline my entire rental process. I work full-time and I really didn’t want to waste my energy on anyone who either wasn’t qualified or wasn’t seriously interested in renting my unit. 

Normally the Trust Score is the first thing that I check when looking for new tenants. Students, particularly international students who apply, may not have a credit history in Canada. In this case, I would defer to their submitted statements to see if they are employed, if they have an income, or are otherwise able to pay for rent. I also made sure to call the references listed on their application to better understand who they are as a renter. 

Send video tours and book showing time slots

After I narrowed down my top applicants to about 15, I sent the remaining candidates a link to my video tour using liv.rent and asked them to book a showing if they were still interested in the apartment. I created some options for time slots for my listing and let them know that they could go ahead and book one that was still open. 

When all was said and done, I ended up with about 10 tenants who booked a viewing – my pool of high-intent renters who I knew were seriously interested and fit all my requirements. I was able to rent out this listing in just about 10 days – I could have rented it out faster if I wanted to, but I chose to do my due diligence and go through more applicants to ensure I was totally satisfied with who I chose to rent to. 

I rented my suite out to 3 international students and I was able to use the built-in contract and pre-vetted addendums to quickly and easily get all the paperwork in order.

My tips for renting out an apartment

To summarize, let’s recap a few of the most important tips and features that helped me streamline the rental process using liv.rent and ultimately rent my apartment faster:

• List on multiple sites using built-in sharing features
• Direct all of your communications to your rental hub on liv.rent
• Use liv.rent features to screen and short-list potential tenants
• Send video tours and conduct showings
• Create contracts and addendums using liv.rent

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The post Landlord Success Story: How To Rent Out An Apartment In 10 Days appeared first on liv.rent blog.

The numbers

Background

The landlord

• Number of listings managed: 1
• Rental platforms used previously: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist
• Management software used currently: liv.rent
• Employment status: Employed full-time
• Primary concerns: Safety, saving time, finding a suitable match

The landlord in this case was renting out a two-bedroom partial house in Vancouver’s Riley Park-Little Mountain neighbourhood, seeking a source of passive income without the stress of troublesome tenants. The listing was originally posted to Facebook Marketplace, as well as liv.rent’s own Facebook Group.

In the posting, the landlord expressed that she would prefer a family or young professionals, and that her main priority was having responsible tenants who she could trust to pay rent on time and take care of the unit.

“I was so grateful to learn about liv.rent. My colleagues already knew about it, but I had no idea how much help it would be!“

The tenants

• Budget: $2,200
• Areas of interest: Cambie Village, Mount Pleasant, Point Grey/U.B.C.
• Reason for moving: Relocating for work opportunity
• Employment status: Employed full-time
• Primary concerns: Safety, budget, securing a home before arriving in Canada

A family of renters reached out to liv.rent’s support team, looking for a place to rent in Vancouver for under $2,200 per month. These tenants were moving to Canada from abroad, and had been continually inquiring to two-bedroom units near the University of British Columbia with few results to show for it.

Though their budget was far below the city-wide average rental rates, our team of Rental Experts accepted the challenge and promised they’d do all they could to find a suitable property. The tenants were almost set to depart for Vancouver, and needed a place as soon as possible. The family was relocating for a work opportunity, with the husband/father having previously worked in a globally-renowned university.

How they did it

A perfect match

While researching listings for potential outreach, liv.rent’s client success team came across a two-bedroom partial house for rent in Vancouver for a lower-than-average monthly rent price. Shared to liv.rent’s Facebook Group, the listing had only been available for a short time but had already been saved by a number of interested renters. Recalling that we had recently spoken to a family of tenants whose preferences aligned nearly perfectly with this listing, we contacted the landlord by phone, leaving a voicemail to let them know that a family of qualified renters was interested in the unit, highlighting that they had already verified their key information for the landlord’s peace of mind. liv.rent isn’t a placement agency, but we always try to assist in situations such as this one where there’s an opportunity to connect like-minded landlords and tenants.

The landlord returned our call almost immediately, sympathizing with the renters’ situation and curious to learn more about their suitability as tenants. After the landlord expressed frustration with the typical rental process and the number of time-wasting replies on other sites, our Rental Experts explained how liv.rent could simplify their renting with built-in tenant screening, marketing, digital contracts & rent payments, and other automation features.

Getting verified

While still on the line with our support representative, the landlord created her free Essentials account. She then filled out her listing’s details using liv.rent’s pre-loaded template, attaching photos of different angles of the unit, as well as a pre-recorded video tour since the tenants were renting from abroad. She proceeded through the verification processes, uploading a picture of her photo ID and land title documents.

The unit itself was a two-bedroom, one-bathroom partial house with a private entrance – and best of all, it was located in a family-friendly neighbourhood with easy public transit routes to U.B.C., perfect for the young family.

In just over 15 minutes, our team had successfully verified the landlord’s account and address, and her listing was ready to be shared! Using the easy built-in sharing features, the landlord was able to invite the tenant to apply directly, starting a conversation over liv.rent’s instant chat to streamline communication.

Simplifying the tenant screening process

After reviewing their application and asking the prospective tenants some preliminary screening questions, the landlord felt ready to continue with the rental process. Although the renters didn’t yet have a credit history in Canada, the Trust Score and liv.rent’s identity & income verification processes gave the landlord peace of mind to proceed. As the tenants were currently in Latin America, both parties had to work around a 4-hour time difference. Using liv.rent’s instant chat though, they were able to find a time slot that worked for everyone and arranged for a Zoom interview.

Virtual tours make renting from abroad a breeze

During a half-hour video call, the landlord asked a series of questions to get to know the renters better, answering any questions they had as well. While still on the call, the landlord performed a video walk-through of the property, showing the tenants each room as while as the exterior of the unit and the surrounding neighbourhood. The tenants were thrilled with what they’d seen, and the landlord was satisfied that she’d found the perfect tenants for her unit.

Making it official with digital contracts & rent payments

With both parties in agreement, the landlord created a lease agreement using liv.rent’s auto-filled lease templates, generated in seconds using the information they’d already entered onto the platform. Next, the landlord sent a Payment Request for the rent deposit through liv.rent, which the tenant promptly and securely paid directly on the platform.

As easy as that – the lease agreement was complete and both the landlord and their new tenant had found a great match in under 24 hours from the original listing being posted.

How liv.rent helped

From start to finish, this case study shows how liv.rent’s digital tools were key to this landlord renting out their listing in 24 hours, ensuring both parties were able to proceed safely and easily. Renting online can normally pose a number of threats: the tenants might not be who they say they are, their documents may not be valid, or they might not be as interested as they say they are. With liv.rent, the guesswork was taken out of the equation as the tenants had already taken the time to verify their paperwork – showing that they were a.) interested, and b.) qualified to rent.

Once posting their listing on the liv.rent platform, the rental process took mere hours, as both parties were able to do everything they needed in one convenient place. With tenant screening features built right into the platform in the form of the Trust Score and liv.rent’s verification processes, the landlord was able to easily gauge the renters’ qualification in just minutes, rather than waiting for a traditional credit check. Then, using digital contracts and rent payments, the remainder of the rental process took less than an hour.

Since there was a time difference involved and the renters weren’t able to see the unit in person before signing a lease, liv.rent’s support for up to 20 photos, as well as video uploads, was integral to properly preview the property. The instant chat feature also played a big role in ensuring streamlined communication throughout, rather than constantly waiting for emails to send or communicating across different messaging apps.

“liv.rent was a game-changer. From verifying my listing to creating & signing a lease – everything was so easy. I’m never going back!“

Takeaways from this case

While 24 hours is definitely on the lower end of the time it takes to rent out a unit, there are three key things landlords can take away from this case study on renting out their listing:

1. With the right tools, renting online can be both safe & easy — Many landlords are wary of tenants renting from abroad, preferring face-to-face interactions over digital ones. This case showed how with liv.rent, landlords and tenants can establish a similar connection through mutual verification, instant chat, and video uploads/tours.
2. The right tenants are worth making an effort for — Though their listing was originally posted to Facebook Marketplace, this landlord took advantage of liv.rent’s features in order to make communicating with these prospective renters easier. Doing this allowed them to make better-informed decisions about who they were renting to, ultimately leading to a perfect match and a happy, long-lasting tenancy.
3. Mutual trust is key to successful renting — The primary factor in this case study for renting out a listing in 24 hours was trust. Since both parties were absolutely sure that the other was trustworthy and a suitable match, the rental process was able to proceed much faster than usual.

Rethink The Way You Rent

Not on liv.rent yet? Experience the ease of digital applications & contracts, verified tenants & landlords, virtual tours and more – all on one platform. Sign up for free or download the app.

Subscribe to receive the latest tenant & landlord tips and get notified about changes in the Canadian rental market.

>> Stay up-to-date on the average rent in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal: Rent Reports.

The post How a Vancouver landlord rented out their listing in under 24 hours with liv.rent appeared first on liv.rent blog.