Kepreye Otrofanowei; Employment Consultant with Build ON
When moving to a new country, one of the major priorities is finding safe and affordable housing. There are different housing options available in Canada and it is up to the individual to decide what kind of home they will live in once in Canada. The kind of home you will live in will depend on a number of factors including your budget and the type of housing that best fits your needs. If you are immigrating by yourself you will find that your needs vastly differ from someone who is immigrating with family.
As a universal tip, for the first few weeks after your arrival, it is advisable to find a short term place to stay. This could be with a friend or family member, a hotel, a short term lease or an Airbnb. This is a low commitment way to help you settle down and get a feel for some of the different areas available in the city that you choose to settle in. Some of the things you may want to look out for is proximity to transport services, affordability, the school district, access to grocery stores and shopping opportunities. These are some general things to consider but depending on the unique needs of yourself or your family, it is advisable to draw up a pros and cons list and decide what is non-negotiable while keeping in mind that it is important to be flexible when it comes to your first home.
These days the internet is one of the most popular ways to go about finding housing. The internet presents a lot of opportunities when it comes to searching for a home but it is important to approach online home searches, especially when you are still overseas, with a high degree of caution. It is strongly recommended that before any leases are signed or any funds are parted with you do your due diligence. It is advisable that before you make any commitments to your new home you verify the authenticity of the information that you have come across online. One of the ways to do this is by conducting a walkthrough of the residence in person. If you are unable to do this then an alternative is to have someone you trust do it for you. Unfortunately things sometimes do not appear as they seem online so it is important that you be very careful before proceeding with any opportunities you come across. Websites like Kijiji are very popular when it comes to searching for homes in Canada.
Some of the other ways to come across housing opportunities is through the local newspaper, bulletin boards at local grocery stores, housing offices, rental agencies and networking. Networking is not only valuable when it comes to a job search but leveraging on friends and family significantly broadens the scope of your search. You can also visit some of the neighborhoods you are interested in and look out for rental signs for houses. If you would like to live in an apartment you can contact the rental agents for the apartment complex or the building superintendent to find out if there are any vacancies that may not be publicized.
Once you finally find a place that you are interested in, it is important to be knowledgeable about what landlords can or cannot ask. It’s important to have this knowledge so you are not taken advantage of by people who may choose to prey on the fact that you may not be familiar with the housing market in Canada. A landlord is not allowed to ask questions that could potentially be used to discriminate against you; for example questions about your ethnicity, background or citizenship status. A landlord also cannot request more than first and last month's rent before a tenant moves into the property. Be sure to also request a receipt for each payment you provide to your landlord. For more information on some of your rights visit Steps to Justice.
If you would like additional information that pertains to housing information for newcomers visit the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation as they provide extensive resources and information in many languages on renting and buying apartments and houses. There are also several pre arrival services that offer settlement services. For information about some of these services visit the Government of Canada website or register with Build ON and ask your employment consultant.