{"id":12413,"date":"2023-04-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/news\/?p=12413"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:29:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:29:46","slug":"find-a-rental-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/find-a-rental-property","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Good Rental Property"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the population grows and living costs increase, finding a good property to purchase <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/common-monthly-expenses\">within reach of your budget<\/a> is becoming trickier. With fewer properties available than ever before, prices are higher today than they\u2019ve ever been. In fact, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/financialization-and-canadian-renters-1.6378257\">research shows<\/a> that in the last decade, Canada has been losing affordable rental units due to a supply shortage. So, finding a good rental property that fits the budget is a big challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even so, renting is still the most feasible (and affordable) arrangement for many, especially for young people relocating to a new city. You might not plan to be there forever, but you deserve to feel comfortable with the apartment and your landlord. So, it\u2019s not just the property you should consider but also the neighbourhood, the area amenities and other factors that will influence your everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To start you off on the right foot, we\u2019ve compiled some helpful guidelines to remember as you attempt to find a rental property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"bg-white border-t border-b border-blacklight my-12 md:my-16 sticky md:relative top-0 md:top-auto z-10 md:z-auto alignwide  wp-block-zolo-block-toc \" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"wrapper relative max-w-2xl mx-auto md:py-8 flex flex-col flex-shrink-0 max-h-screen md:max-h-none\"><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"toc-toggle\" class=\"hidden\"\/><label for=\"toc-toggle\" class=\"flex justify-between cursor-pointer md:cursor-auto py-4\"><div class=\"toc-title leading-normal font-medium m-0\">In this article<\/div><svg class=\"w-6 h-6 fill-current text-blue md:hidden transition-transform duration-150 ease-in-out\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10S2 6.5 2 12s4.5 10 10 10 10-4.5 10-10zM6.9 10.9l1.4-1.4 3.7 3.7 3.7-3.7 1.4 1.4L12 16l-5.1-5.1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/label><nav id=\"toc-nav\" class=\"zolo-toc-nav max-h-0 md:max-h-full overflow-y-auto scrollbar-hidden overscroll-none\"><ul class=\"zolo-toc-list my-4\"><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#what-are-the-responsibilities-of-the-landlord-and-tenant?\">What Are the Responsibilities of the Landlord and Tenant?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#how-to-find-a-good-rental-property\">How to Find a Good Rental Property<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#where-to-look-for-rental-apartments?\">Where to Look for Rental Apartments?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#how-to-look-at-rental-properties-(to-find-the-right-one)\">How to Look at Rental Properties (To Find the Right One)<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#you\u2019ve-found-the-perfect-rental-apartment.-now-what?\">You\u2019ve Found the Perfect Rental Apartment. Now What?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#should-you-use-a-realtor-to-find-a-rental?\">Should You Use a Realtor to Find a Rental?<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"entry-title no-underline hover:underline\" href=\"#final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-the-responsibilities-of-the-landlord-and-tenant?\">What Are the Responsibilities of the Landlord and Tenant?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Landlord-Insurance-how-tenants-insurance-protects-you-1024x678.png\" alt=\"a tenancy agreement protects the tenant and landlord\" class=\"wp-image-6434\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As a tenant applying for a rental unit, knowing the rights that protect you as a customer and a human being is important. Thankfully, virtually every part of the country has its own laws governing rentals and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/responsibilities-as-a-renter\">responsibilities of tenants<\/a> and landlords. The <a href=\"http:\/\/chrc-ccdp.gc.ca\/eng\/content\/provincial-territorial-human-rights-agencies\">Canadian Human Rights Commission<\/a> (CHRC) can provide details for each province and territory and process guidance for filing a claim or complaint. However, the responsibilities of landlords and tenants are generally very similar from place to place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Landlords Must:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Collect rent in accordance with the agreed-upon schedule.<\/li><li>Keep the property in good condition and safe for the tenants.<\/li><li>Provide appliances, home systems, and other amenities included in the rent.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Landlords Cannot:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Engage in discriminatory behaviour, i.e. deny rent to anyone based on gender, age, ethnicity, disability or social assistance.<\/li><li>Demand payment of an application fee.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tenants Must:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Pay rent in accordance with the agreed-upon schedule.<\/li><li>Maintain the property and keep it clean.<\/li><li>Call the landlord when anything needs to be fixed.<\/li><li>Allow the landlord and repair people access to the property according to the terms of the lease.<\/li><li>On termination of and according to terms of the lease, show the apartment to other potential tenants.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tenants Cannot:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Withhold rent as a way to force the landlord to comply with a request\/demand.<\/li><li>Destroy the property as a way to show dissatisfaction.<\/li><li>Refuse the landlord or designate (for example, repair personnel) access to your unit if they have provided proper notice.<\/li><li>Conduct illegal activity from the rental unit or property.<\/li><li>Breach the signed lease unless they have written permission from the landlord to do so.<\/li><li>Make alterations to the rental unit&nbsp;unless they have written permission from the landlord to do so.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-find-a-good-rental-property\">How to Find a Good Rental Property<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Houses-and-Apartments-real-estate-catalogue-with-properties-for-rent-and-buy-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"What can you afford  Houses and Apartments real estate catalogue with properties for rent and buy\" class=\"wp-image-9207\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Decide on the Type of Apartment You Want<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being aware of the many different kinds of apartments out there is an important factor in apartment hunting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Studio apartments: Apartments with only one room that contains everything.<\/li><li>Apartment complexes: Apartment communities managed by the same rental company.<\/li><li>Apartment condo: Part of an apartment complex, but more similar in layout to a house.<\/li><li>House apartment: A house that\u2019s been modified into an apartment, such as a basement that\u2019s been divided to form a separate living area.<\/li><li>Student apartment: Also known as college dorms, these units are most commonly offered by universities as student housing<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Have a List of Must-Haves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone has certain perks that they cannot imagine living without, whether multiple bedrooms\/bathrooms, gas appliances or proximity to certain amenities. Make a note of any features or conveniences that you consider indispensable, preferably as a ranked list. Keep your mini-checklist close while you search. From there, cross off any property that doesn&#8217;t offer the benefits you want. At a minimum, this should help you narrow your choices for an easier decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Do Your Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can search for and find a competitively-priced rental property on many Canadian websites, blogs, and Facebook groups. Although many of these sites have good information, those that charge landlords a nominal fee to list their units tend to discourage fraudulent listings. Among the multitude of Canadian rental sites out there, these ones generally provide helpful, quality services:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\">Zolo.ca<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kijiji.ca\">Kijiji.ca<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.craigslist.org\">Craiglist.org<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.padmapper.com\/\">Padmapper.com<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentfaster.ca\/\">Rentfaster.ca<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentseeker.ca\/\">Rentseeker.ca<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/4rent.ca\/\">4Rent.ca<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Show Up Prepared to Viewings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be surprised by the stiff competition for rental apartments in some cities, especially in highly desirable neighbourhoods. With jam-packed viewings, giving yourself every possible advantage over other potential tenants is a good idea. Make sure to show up prepared with everything a landlord might ask for. This includes your credit report, proof of employment, income statements, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Be Ready to Make a Decision<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Attending a viewing or walk-through of the potential rental before making a decision is key. In addition to proving that the property exists, a walkthrough can reveal deficits. Look for things like faulty appliances, pest infestations and other maintenance issues. Once you\u2019ve toured the property, be ready to make a quick (even on-the-spot) decision. With so many people vying for desirable properties, make sure to seize the opportunity while you can. Tomorrow may be too late!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Be Flexible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s good to have a list of must-haves. But leave some room for a compromise concerning anything you don\u2019t consider an absolute priority. Who knows? A feature that you\u2019d considered undesirable might just turn out to be your favourite thing about the whole apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-to-look-for-rental-apartments?\">Where to Look for Rental Apartments?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-large wp-image-5550\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Apartment-for-rent-sign-federal-budget-2018.jpg\" alt=\"Apartment for rent sign federal budget 2018\" class=\"wp-image-5550\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike a few decades back, when finding a rental apartment meant flipping through countless newspaper ads, looking at retail bulletin boards or dealing with expensive rental agencies, finding a rental apartment today is much easier. There are so many listings sources that you can find one wherever you look. However, the most common sources that tenants turn to when looking for a rental apartment are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Online real estate websites<\/li><li>Social media groups where landlords publish their rental properties<\/li><li>Newspaper ads<\/li><li>A rental agent\/rental agency<\/li><li>Visual search through the neighbourhood of your liking for \u201cFor Rent\u201d signs<\/li><li>Friends or acquaintances that may know of available properties<\/li><li>Other organizations dealing with specific types of rentals (if warranted)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-look-at-rental-properties-(to-find-the-right-one)\">How to Look at Rental Properties (To Find the Right One)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/bigstock-183186109-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Couple looking out a window in a condo   rental apartment shopping\" class=\"wp-image-3139\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visit Each Unit Personally and Do a Visual Inspection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, it&#8217;s best if you can go in person to see the unit. This helps you assess the landlord, the neighbourhood and the apartment to determine if it suits your needs and is a good rental property for your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For renters moving to a new province or even across the city, ask to schedule a digital walk-through with the landlord if an in-person walk-through isn&#8217;t possible. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One university student regretted paying a damage deposit on a unit in Manitoba before visiting to confirm it was there. \u201cWe arrived<\/span> at the address we were given only to find an empty lot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a month before school started, and we had to scramble to find a place,\u201d said David, who preferred to stay anonymous. \u201cThe rental property didn\u2019t even exist, and that was when we realized we were scammed.\u201d Walkthroughs can also prevent tenants from living in a unit with<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> appliances that may not function properly, a unit that&#8217;s badly damaged or beside neighbours that are less than desirable.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Familiar With the Local Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure you receive a fair price for a rental unit, it\u2019s important to do your research. How many rental units are available in that neighbourhood? What is the average rental rate for the type of unit you are looking at? Should you expect your landlord to pay for utilities or not? You should have an answer to all of these questions before settling on a rental unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"you\u2019ve-found-the-perfect-rental-apartment.-now-what?\">You\u2019ve Found the Perfect Rental Apartment. Now What?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"493\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Realtor-showing-the-contract-papers-to-client-inside-of-a-new-house-1024x493.jpg\" alt=\"Sitting around a contract. Always get a contract.\" class=\"wp-image-9051\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you find a good rental property, complete the application process and finalize the details with your landlord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the landlord agrees to take you on as their tenant, they will likely want to get to know you better. In Canada, a common practice for landlords is to request references that will prove to them that you are a good tenant. Often a recommendation from a previous landlord, employer, or past neighbour will be enough to assure them that you will be a responsible renter. Property owners can also ask for such finance or income-related items as proof of employment, confirmation of salary, or a basic credit report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the landlord is satisfied and you\u2019ve settled on the general terms and conditions of the rental apartment, the next step is to sign a lease agreement. The lease agreement should stipulate everything you and the landlord have mutually agreed to, as well as the responsibilities of both parties pertaining to the rental. Aside from financial expectations, it should clearly set out landlord and tenant responsibilities surrounding pets, utility payments, maintenance costs, arranging for repairs, and the expected duration of the tenancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the lease agreement is too complicated, or if there is any part you cannot understand, you can always consult a legal expert or a rental agent to help you clarify things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The landlord may also ask for a rental deposit upon signing the lease as a guarantee that you won\u2019t be late with payments or as security for any damage to the unit. If you live in a province where deposits are allowed, confirm whether or not your landlord will request one from you. Provided that you never fall behind with payments and that no damage is caused to the property, the landlord will be obligated to return this deposit at the end of the lease or perhaps apply it to cover your last month\u2019s rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, once you\u2019ve settled in, look into tenants\u2019 insurance to further protect your personal belongings and peace of mind as a responsible renter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"should-you-use-a-realtor-to-find-a-rental?\">Should You Use a Realtor to Find a Rental?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Find-an-American-Realtor-couple-chatting-happy-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Find-an-American-Realtor-couple-chatting-happy\" class=\"wp-image-6124\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We all know that real estate agents help people buy apartments and houses, but they can also help you find a rental apartment. There are many reasons why people enlist the help of a realtor to find a rental apartment, but the main ones usually come down to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Not enough time to research properties and go to viewings<\/li><li>Location is highly sought-after and warrants expert guidance<\/li><li>Relocating to a new city \/ away from the city<\/li><li>Lack of familiarity with the neighbourhood<\/li><li>Legal help is needed to navigate the paperwork<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The specific duties that a realtor can help you with (and how much they might charge to do so) depend to a large extent on the location where you\u2019re moving and, of course, on the reputation and expertise of the agent. If you\u2019re on a budget, you may ask them for an up-front estimate of how much they expect everything might cost to determine whether or not it might be worth your while to hire them or whether you\u2019d prefer to save a few bucks by handling everything on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you&#8217;re a young adult moving out on your own for the first time or relocating to a new city for better career opportunities, the key to finding a good rental apartment is being well-prepared and well-informed. That way, you will know what to expect once you dive into the rental market and won\u2019t become overwhelmed by the mountain of tasks and information you\u2019ll be expected to deal with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you&#8217;ve figured out what you want and how much you want to spend, it\u2019s just a matter of time before you find the rental apartment of your dreams. Just make sure to do your homework, and before you know it, you\u2019ll be thinking about the fun stuff: furnishing, decorating, and housewarming parties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Use these tips to find an affordable rental unit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":22745,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15088],"tags":[],"guide":[],"class_list":["post-12413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renting"],"acf":[],"zolo_excerpt":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12413"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24782,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12413\/revisions\/24782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12413"},{"taxonomy":"guide","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guide?post=12413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}