How to find a roommate in Edmonton

Looking for a roommate can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re new to Edmonton or just looking for a change, finding the right person to share your space with can make all the difference. In this guide by liv.rent, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to make the process as smooth as possible. We cover everything from the best places to find a listing to what you need to know once you move in. Edmonton has a wide selection of different listings on offer so there’s something for everyone.

Best places to find a roommate

There are many different places to find a roommate online, so it’s important that you are looking in the right place to make sure you find your ideal listing. In this section, we outline the best websites to find a roommate in Edmonton as well as some pros and cons for each. We’ve also provided listings for each site across various budget ranges so you have everything you need to start your rental journey.

1. Craigslist

Craigslist is an online marketplace that offers a variety of listing options for just about anything you can think of. For this guide, we are looking at the rooms / shared option under the housing tab. Craigslist has a substantial user base making it the first port of call for many on their search for a roommate.

Pros

1. Wide reach: Craigslist is an extremely popular platform with a large user base. This leads to more listings and a greater chance to find something that suits your needs.
2. Free listings: It’s free to post on Craigslist, this makes it more accessible for everyone to find what they are looking for without having to break the bank.

Cons

1. Safety concerns: Craigslist has a minimal verification process, which leads to a higher risk of encountering scams and fraudulent listings.
2. Basic interface: Craigslist was founded in 1995 and has kept a minimal design over the years which takes some getting used to. This can slow down the search process in the beginning and prolong your search.

• Craigslist listings for $1500
• Craigslist listings for $1200
• Craigslist listings for $1000

2. Facebook Groups

Facebook has some great groups for people looking to find accommodation in Edmonton. There is a wide selection of everything from dedicated housing groups to general community groups that post housing listings.

Pros

1. Social proof: Users are required to have a profile to post in Facebook groups, this adds a layer of transparency which generally leads to more trustworthy listings. Other users also have the ability to comment, this further reduces the likelihood of scams and fraudulent listings.
2. Community engagement: Housing groups facilitate the interaction of landlords and renters directly, this fosters a sense of community and trust between the two. You can also look at a landlord’s social media ahead of time to verify their identity.

Cons

1. Limited search functionality: Facebook’s search features are not as advanced as dedicated rental platforms, making it harder to filter and find specific listings. This may increase the time investment necessary to find a listing that suits your needs.
2. Inconsistent moderation: The quality and effectiveness of group moderation can vary, affecting the reliability and safety of the group. The larger the groups generally speaking the better the moderation, it’s best to join the largest groups first.

• liv.rent Calgary & Edmonton group
• Edmonton + Area Rental Listings
• Edmonton AB Roommates

3. Secondary Housing Portals

Secondary housing portals offer a great opportunity for students to secure accommodation through a college or post-secondary institution. Often it is possible to secure a spot in a room on campus or in school-owned accommodation off campus.

Pros

1. Socialization: As you will be surrounded by other college students, possibly even ones in your course you have a great opportunity to make new friends. Especially if you are not from that area.
2. Safety: Due to these dorm rooms being affiliated with the school, they are often quite safe places to live. Levels of safety can depend on the type of institution and cost of a room so it is recommended to do your research.

Cons

1. Limited space: There is always high competition for these rooms as they are typically located either on or close to campus. This means spaces fill up fast so you must be prepared for when slots open up.
2. Up-front payment: Depending on the institution you may be required to pay the year’s rent upfront. This can be a limiting factor as many people don’t have that amount of cash on hand at any one time.

• Mac Ewan University
• University of Alberta
• Concordia University of Edmonton

4. Roomies.ca

Roomies.ca is a dedicated rental platform focused on helping Canadians find roommates and shared housing. It offers user-friendly search tools and detailed profiles, making it easier to connect with compatible roommates and secure housing options in Edmonton.

Pros

1. Focused on shared housing: Roomies.ca has a focus on roommates and shared accommodation, which makes searches more efficient and can cut down on the time it takes to find your ideal listing.
2. Verified listings: Safety is always a concern when you are looking for listings online. Roomies. .ca verified listings feature helps to reduce scams and fraudulent listings, giving you some peace of mind.

Cons

1. Smaller user base: Compared to larger platforms like Facebook and Craigslist, Roomies.ca has a smaller user base. This may lead to fewer listings and make it more difficult to find a listing that suits you.
2. Limited features: Due to Roomies.ca being a less established platform than other big players in the market this means it comes with a more limited feature set. The majority of the listing information is included in a description section, this can limit filtering ability and add time to your search.

• Roomies listings for $1500
• Roomies listings for $1200
• Roomies listings for $1000

5. Roomster

Roomster is a worldwide platform designed to connect people seeking roommates and shared housing. It’s a well-established platform being released in 2016 and is already in one-hundred and ninety-two countries worldwide.

Pros

1. Verification: Roomster offers both phone and email verification for its users. This adds an extra layer of security to the rental process.
2. Free listings: It’s free to post on Roomster, making it more accessible for renters who want to bring in a roommate to post a listing.

Cons

1. Limited filtering options: Roomster has essential filters like distance, gender and budget but has very limited options beyond these few filters. This can be inconvenient if you have pets or a specific type of accommodation that you are looking for.
2. Paid messaging: Roomster has a freemium tier that allows users to search for listings for free but you must pay a fee to message on the platform. This can be a limiting factor for those searching for accommodation on a budget.

• Roomster listings for $1500
• Roomster listings for $1200
• Roomster listings for $1000

Honourable mention

Since none of the above platforms tick every box we have decided to include one honourable mention that’s a great option for anyone looking for affordable, safe accommodation. It is placed in the honourable mentions category as liv.rent doesn’t yet have a roommates feature but you still have the option to filter for single rooms on the platform.

liv.rent

liv.rent is Canada’s safest rental platform, built on a foundation of trust between landlord and renters thanks to an extensive verification process. Not to mention tools like the Trust Score tenant screening tools, available on a pay-per-use basis for Essentials users and included in the platform’s Growth and Business plans.

There’s a suite of filtering options so you can taper your search to only single rooms to ensure you can easily find what you are looking for. The large user base provides an abundance of listings so there is something for everyone. As you can see, liv.rent unsurprisingly ticks all the boxes, making it a great option for anyone starting out on their rental journey.

• liv.rent listings for $1500
• liv.rent listings for $1200
• liv.rent listings for $1000

Renting as a group

If you wish to rent a home with your friends, don’t worry liv.rent has you covered. There are two ways that you can rent as a group:

1. Everyone on the lease — Everyone will need to submit an individual application to the same rental listing. Then when the landlord creates the lease, they can select all applicants who will take part in the lease.
2. Only one person on the lease — In this case, only one person will submit an application. In the application, they will add roommates. However, once the landlord creates the lease only the main applicant will be listed on the lease.

Roommate agreements: Why they are important and what to include

The rights and obligations of both landlords and tenants in Alberta are set out by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). It’s important to note that it doesn’t apply to shared accommodation situations. If you are living with roommates or sharing living space with your landlord, you should have written agreements in place to outline rules, expectations and bills.

Here are some suggestions on what to include:

• Rent: How rent is split and paid to the landlord
• Bills: How are bills divided amongst others in the home
• Notice: What notice period must be given to the other roommate(s) when moving out
• Security deposit: How will it be handled if one roommate leaves
• Chores: How will chores be split between others in the home

Pros and cons of living with a roommate

There is a lot to consider when choosing a roommate and it can be easy to get bogged down. This section will lay out some important pros and cons, to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Pros

• Cheaper rent — One of the biggest benefits of having a roommate is getting to split rent in half. This can afford some financial freedom to renters, especially while rents are high.
• Companionship — It’s common for people who share a space to form a bond and become friends. This is an often unforeseen benefit of having a roommate, the connections you make with other people.
• Shared responsibility — It can be hugely beneficial to have a roommate who has knowledge of how to fix things around the home. This can not only save you money on purchasing new appliances but you can also pick up some useful skills in the process.
• Shared resources — You may benefit from having a roommate who has amenities that you can share such as a large TV, kitchen appliances or sports equipment. This can also lead to discovering a new hobby.

Cons

• Less personal space — This may be a particularly difficult issue to overcome if you are an individual who requires personal space to recharge. Through utilizing a roommate agreement this issue can be overcome.
• Conflicting schedules — It’s common for people to have different schedules, this may present an issue if you are sharing a space with someone whose schedule conflicts with yours. An example of this is a bar worker who often gets home late at night sharing a space with an office worker who needs to get up early in the morning.
• Mess in shared spaces — With more people comes an increased likelihood of shared spaces becoming messy. It’s important to share cleanliness expectations with new roommates early on and include them in a roommate agreement to help mitigate any potential tension.
• Noise levels — Noise can be an issue if you prefer a quieter space and your roommate is often listening to loud music or television. It’s important to always keep open lines of communication and establish an expected level of noise that both parties are happy with.

Resources for Edmonton renters

For more information on renting in Edmonton including info on Alberta rental law and guides for using liv.rent to streamline your rental process, renters can check out our blog for more up-to-date relevant information.

• Free tenant empowerment courses
• Residential Tenancies Act
• Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS)
• Guide to finding off-campus housing
• Student Legal Services (SLS)

FAQ: How to find a roommate in Edmonton

What makes a good roommates?

There are a few things that make a good roommate. You should be considerate of other people’s belongings, clean, hygienic, well-mannered and pay your portion of bills on time. Above all else, it is best to be conscious of other people especially if you are sharing a space.

How do you trust a roommate?

A great way to establish trust early with a roommate is to ask for a reference. This way a third party will vouge for them and provide you with some peace of mind.

What expenses should roommates share?

Roommates should share expenses that come from services that are utilized by others in the home. Water, electricity and wifi are some examples of this.

What rights do I have as a roommate?

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in Alberta. But, it doesn’t apply to shared accommodation situations. Therefore a roommate agreement is important in setting out responsibilities between people sharing a space.

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