In this article, we’ll show you how to secure a place in Canada from abroad by doing everything online — search, apply, view, sign and pay.

How to search online for a home to rent in Canada

Where to start your search

Rental listing sites — This is probably the easiest and most efficient way to look for apartments and houses for rent in Canada. From liv.rent to Kijiji, there’s a myriad of rental websites you can search from. If you’re searching for rentals in Toronto, here are the top 9 apartment rental websites you can start off with.

Social media — Another way to look for rentals is through Facebook Marketplace, Facebook Groups, Instagram, YouTube and Subreddits. You can check out Facebook Groups such as Vancouver Rentals and Toronto Rentals or subreddits such as r/vancouverhousing and r/TorontoRenting.

University housing sites — If you’re a student, try contacting the “off-campus housing” department of your university or college. They’ll be able to assist you and direct you to the right resource or housing site specific to students.

What to look out for when you’re searching

Is the landlord who they say they are? If the landlord’s identity is unclear or hidden behind a numbered company, be cautious. Identify theft and cash deposits being stolen can happen, so it’s important to know how to protect yourself.

Does the rental unit actually exist? If the photos seem similar to another listing or address details are withheld, you should dig deeper. Search on Google Maps to ensure that the images aren’t pulled from an actual sale listing. Also, request a live virtual tour of the property.

Tip: When you’re searching on liv.rent, check that the landlord and listing has a “verified checkmark” next to their profile and address. This means that the landlord has been verified with a government-issued ID or business license, and the listing has been verified by mail or land title documents.

Is too much information being requested upfront? Never provide your credit card or bank account information until you decide to move forward with a lease. However, some landlords may request that you apply before booking a viewing. In this case, they may ask for bank statements or tax information to ensure that you’re able to cover rent payments.

Learn more to find out what information a landlord is allowed to ask for.

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How to apply online for a rental in Canada

Before you apply for a rental, make sure you have the right documentation. The two most important pieces of information you’ll need to provide are financial documents (e.g. bank statements, employment letters) and references from your past landlords.

Here’s a quick overview of what landlords may ask for:

How to apply for a rental through liv.rent

When you’re applying on liv.rent, you’ll be guided through the entire rental application that consists of four components: ID verification, basic profile, Trust Score (renter’s credibility rating system), and references. Once completed, you’ll be able to submit this application (think of it as your Renter’s Resume) to any listing on liv.rent.

Watch now: How to fill out your application (i.e. Renter’s Resume)

Step 1) ID Verification

The first step is to verify your ID, so that landlords know you’re a verified renter. This involves uploading a government-issued document: driver’s license, passport, health insurance card, or permanent residence card. Once uploaded, you’ll be asked to take a photo of yourself and the liv.rent team will manually verify to ensure your identity and information match.

Note: Your authentication information is only temporarily stored. Once you’ve been verified, liv.rent will immediately remove all copies in a secured manner.

Step 2) Basic Profile

The next step is to provide background information that will give landlords an overview of who you are and your current status. This includes information such as your name, contact info, current address and an introduction about yourself. If you’re living outside of Canada, select the country you’re currently residing in and put down your home address.

Tip: Take advantage of the “About Yourself” section by sharing any additional information you would like landlords to know.

Step 3) Trust Score

Powered by AI and an algorithm that corroborates submitted information to assign a score for every renter, Trust Score is an intelligent rating system that evaluates a renter’s reliability and credibility. This score will be used by landlords to assess and rank prospective tenants.

In order to receive a Trust Score, there are three parts to complete:

Credit check — As a newcomer to Canada, you can select the option “I do not have a credit history in Canada“. This will explain to prospective landlords why a credit score is not available for you.

Financial documents — If you do not have an active letter of employment or job offer in Canada, you can select the option “Not Employed“. Then, under Income Verification, you can upload a bank statement that shows you have at least one year’s worth of rent in your bank account.

If you’re a student, you can select the option “Student” and upload your enrolment letter or student card to prove your student status.

Note: Once these documents have been verified, it will be securely removed from the system and landlords will not have access to any sensitive information.

ID verification — If you’ve completed Step 1, then no action is required.

Step 4) References

The last step in your rental application is to provide either employment or landlord references. If you’re renting for the first time or your landlord references are from your home country, select the option “I’m a first-time renter and do not have any landlord references“. As an alternative, cite an employer, teacher, or immigration agency as your reference; essentially, choose someone who can attest to your reliability as a renter.

Tip: Secure a Canadian cell phone number as soon as possible. Having an active local number in advance will help you open utility accounts, bank accounts, and more. You may also be asked for a domestic number at your point of entry.

How to view your rental virtually

Virtual tours can be just as effective as in-person viewings if a) you know what to look for and b) you know what to ask. There are two things to keep in mind during a virtual tour:

Don’t be afraid to check — Have the landlord demonstrate that all appliances are working (e.g. run faucets, flush toilets, check stoves, turn on lights).

Prepare questions — Let the landlord do the talking by asking open-ended questions (e.g. describe your ideal tenant.) Also, ask questions that can uncover information not addressed in the ads (e.g. how much interest have you had for this unit?)

How to sign a digital lease agreement

You can review, sign, send and renew leases for rental agreements in B.C. and Ontario on the liv.rent platform — online or in app.

The advice we always give to renters is to review before signing. Once you’ve signed, the lease becomes binding.

First, make sure you’re familiar with what should and should not be allowed on the lease agreement. This will vary by province.

• BC Residential Tenancy Agreement
• Ontario Standard Lease

Next, as you’re looking over the lease agreement, make note of three areas:

Rent amount and additional costs — Check if the lease states the correct rent amount, when it is due, and the acceptable forms of rent payment (e.g. e-transfer, credit card, cheque, etc.) Also, see if there are any additional costs like security or pet deposits.

Custom addendums — Landlords may choose to add additional terms to the basic lease agreement through custom addendums. It can be related to pets, smoking, subletting or late payment fees. Pay extra attention to these portions! These are also binding as long as the tenant agrees to them and they don’t conflict with the Residential Tenancy Act.

Lease extension — Pay attention to what the lease says will happen after the lease ends. In B.C. and Ontario, after a lease expires, it’s transitioned into a month-to-month rental agreement — unless the landlord added an addendum about vacating.

In most cases, when the lease term is up, you and your landlord may decide to sign another lease. However, you are not required to do so.

How to set up digital rent payment

Even if you did not apply and/or sign a lease agreement through liv.rent, you can still set up digital rent payment on liv.rent and select one of the following payment options: credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), Union Pay, and even by Bitcoin.

Note: If your landlord isn’t on liv.rent but you want to pay with credit card, Union Pay or Bitcoin — contact support@liv.rent so that we can help you onboard your landlord and set up digital rent payment.

How it works: Your landlord will send you a payment request through the liv.rent app. Then, you can easily pay via whichever method you choose. You’ll also receive payment reminders that you can turn on or off in your profile settings after your rental contract is active.

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 In Canada: How To Secure A Home Before Coming To Canada appeared first on liv.rent blog.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of coming to Canada to study this fall as an international student, how to stay safe while searching for and applying to listings, how to secure a home before you arrive, and the best places to look for rental housing.

Table of Contents

International students coming to Canada during COVID-19

Though we’re now over two years into the global COVID-19 pandemic, there are still steps travellers must take to prepare for their trip and ensure they’re permitted entry to Canada. Being an international student requires you to have all your travel, school, and government documents together before flying. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic still going on in Canada, there are a few more things that students need to be aware of before they arrive. Here’s what you need to know:

Note: COVID-19 rules and guidelines are constantly changing. That’s why we included a resources section at the end of this article for you to check with the Government of Canada for the latest updates.

Getting a study permit

The study permitting process has, for the most part, returned to normal in Canada after potential delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, students are encouraged to apply online before arriving to the country – unless they meet one of a few conditions, in which case they may apply at the port of entry.

Be aware that even with things mostly returned to normal, it may take up to 90 days for your study permit to be processed. Make sure to leave ample time between your acceptance and your arrival date to avoid any hiccups.

Designated learning institutions

In order to apply for a study permit in Canada, you must first have been accepted to a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). This is a school that has been approved by the province’s or territory’s government to host international students.

• Check the list of approved DLIs

COVID-19 travel rules & guidelines

Canada’s COVID-19 travel rules are constantly changing, so it’s important to check for the latest updates before you depart. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll need to know before you arrive in Canada:

1. Fully Vaccinated Travellers – If you’ve received at least 2 doses of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, with the second dose administered at least 14 days before entering Canada, you’ll be exempt from pre-entry testing upon arrival. Students seeking this designation should also show no signs of COVID-19, and make sure to upload the required documents to the ArriveCAN app to prove their vaccination status.
2. Unvaccinated Travellers – If you don’t qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller, you may still be allowed entry into Canada in most cases, although you’ll need to complete pre-entry, arrival, and day-8 tests. For specific requirements, check the latest updates here.

Note: each province in Canada has their own provincial guidelines about COVID-19, in addition to policies at individual post-secondary institutions.

How to rent in Canada from abroad

Once you’ve been accepted to study in Canada and you’ve successfully acquired your study permit, it’s time to start looking for a place to live. Depending on when you receive your

That’s not a lot of time, but if you use liv.rent then you can start your search today and secure a home from anywhere.

We made every step of the rental process digital. That means you can search for listings, view units, chat with landlords, apply, sign your contract, and pay your rent all online and in our app.

Sign up to liv.rent now and complete your profile only when you’re ready to apply.

Complete your liv.rent renter profile

We call your profile your “renter resume” because once you fill it out, you can use it to apply to multiple listings to save you time. Once you apply to a place, your information is shared securely with the landlord, who can review your profile, ask you some questions, and send you a lease to sign in-app.

As part of your profile, you can select the “I do not live in Canada” option. This communicates to landlords instantly that you’re moving to Canada from abroad and will help them understand why your prior Canadian address is “missing,” helping them build trust with you faster.

As a student, this might be your first time renting a home. On your liv.rent profile, you can also select “I’m a first-time renter,” so that a landlord can understand why you don’t have previous landlord references from Canada.

Note: try to secure a Canadian cell phone number as soon as possible. Having an active local number in advance will help you open utility accounts, bank accounts, and more once you’re in Canada.

Apartments for rent in Canada

In Canada, there are a few varieties of rental housing available, from single rooms in shared houses and entire houses to condos and townhomes.

Often, students are on a budget and looking for affordable homes. While studios and one-bedrooms are still viable options, prices for these types of units tend to be higher. With rent prices consistently high across the country, it can be much more affordable to search for a room to rent, or find roommates in advance and apply to two- or three-bedroom units. Whichever type of unit you choose, liv.rent allows you to easily search for homes and filter them by price or rental type, making it easy to narrow down your search.

Although we have listings across Canada, we’ve pulled listings and links for three major Canadian cities where international students often go to study:

• Places for rent in Vancouver
• Places for rent in Toronto
• Places for rent in Montreal

Apartments for rent in Vancouver

• Studios for rent
• One-bedrooms for rent
• Two-bedrooms for rent

If you’re headed to Vancouver, B.C. for your studies, it’s more important than ever to understand the local rental market averages. That way, you can empower yourself to make decisions that work for you and your budget.

Historically, Vancouver is not an affordable place to call home and for a while now has held the top spot as the most expensive city to rent in Vancouver.

Still, it’s a breathtaking city and home to many exciting educational institutions like The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Learn more about Vancouver’s distinct neighbourhoods:

1. Richmond
2. Yaletown
3. Main Street
4. Dunbar
5. Chinatown
6. Commercial Drive
7. The West End
8. North Vancouver
9. Marine & Cambie Hub
10. New Westminster Brewery District
11. Arbutus

Apartments for rent in Toronto

• Studios for rent
• One-bedrooms for rent
• Two-bedrooms for rent

Living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a popular choice for many newcomers to Canada. There are lots of great schools in Toronto and beyond. And, if you’re living in Downtown Toronto, then it can feel like you’re a part of the country’s urban centre.

If you have questions about renting in Ontario, we have answers. Check out our series Applying For A Rental In Ontario:

• Part 1: What’s A Standard Rental Application?
• Part 2: What do you need when applying for a rental?
• Part 3: What Can A Landlord Ask For On A Rental Application In Ontario?
• Part 4: How Do I Fill Out A Rental Application?

Apartments for rent in Montreal

• Studios for rent
• One-bedrooms for rent
• Two-bedrooms for rent

Montreal is a relatively affordable Canadian city for renters, especially compared to the high prices in Vancouver and Toronto. The French and English-speaking city is home to many of the country’s finest schools like McGill and Concordia.

Resources for international students in Canada

• COVID-19: A Guide for International Students in Canada Arriving from Abroad
• Study in Canada as an international student
• COVID-19: Designated learning institutions reopening to international students
• Guidance for post-secondary institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Flying to Canada requirements checklist
• Driving to Canada requirements checklist
• Province of British Columbia COVID-19 information
• Province of Ontario COVID-19 information
• Provice of Quebec COVID-19 information English| Français

FAQ: Coming to Canada as an international student

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 Best Off-Campus Housing For International Students Coming To Canada Fall 2022 appeared first on liv.rent blog.