An overview

Learn about the housing options in Canada and what to consider when looking for a place to live.

On this page

• Things to consider when looking for a place to live
• Types of housing
• Resources on housing for newcomers

Things to consider when looking for a place to live

Before you decide where to live

• learn about the types of housing
• decide on your housing needs
• explore which cities and neighbourhoods you prefer

The first thing to consider is your finances. Think about your immediate (short-term) and permanent (long-term) housing needs and decide what you can afford.

You may also need temporary housing when you arrive while you find a different place to live that you like.

Canada is a big country and is home to a wide variety of communities. It has metropolitan cities, smaller towns, and rural or sparsely populated areas.

Our communities are also diverse in terms of culture and language. When you’re looking for a place to live, the diversity of the area may impact your decision, depending on your needs.

The cost of renting or owning a home in Canada varies widely between provinces, territories, cities and neighbourhoods.

When looking for your next home, consider the following:

• What are the costs of renting or owning a home in the area you’re interested in? Costs can also include related services like
  • utilities (for example, heat, water and electricity)
  • renters or homeowners insurance
  • taxes
  • other fees
• How close is the home to the services you need? Consider things like
  • schools or post-secondary institutions
  • hospitals or medical clinics
  • pharmacies
  • public transportation
• How close is the home to amenities? Consider things like
  • shopping
  • grocery stores
  • cultural communities
  • places of worship

Types of housing

There are different types of housing in Canada, including

• short-term or interim housing (renting for a short time)
• long-term housing (renting for a long time or buying a property)
• temporary housing (like emergency shelters or transitional housing)

Depending on your situation, you can

• rent or buy a property
• live somewhere for a short or long time

There are many forms of housing, including

• houses:
  • detached houses with property around them
  • semi-detached houses and townhouses, where the house shares a wall with another house
• apartment buildings that have more than one unit for rent, like an apartment with 1 to 3 bedrooms or a bachelor unit (a single space instead of a unit with a separate bedroom)
• condominiums buildings that have separate units (called condos) owned by different owners
  • Condo owners usually share common areas, like a lobby, stairs and green spaces.
  • These units can have 1 to 4 bedrooms or be a “bachelor” unit.

While apartment buildings are intended as rental properties, any type of housing can have rental spaces such as the following:

• part of or all of a house that the home owner has converted into rental spaces
• a house or condominium that an owner lists online to rent for periods of time
• an apartment that a renter may be allowed to sublet, which means they can rent their space to someone else while they’re away
• an individual room of a house, condo or apartment that you may be able to rent, while sharing the rest of the space with others

Resources on housing for newcomers

When searching for a place to live, check more than one source of information to find a community that meets your needs. To help with your research, you can

• search online
• visit communities in person, when possible
• ask your friends and family

The communities you’re considering may also have housing information on their websites.

For more help with your research

• contact a free newcomer services provider after you arrive in your community to get newcomer resources and supports, including help with housing
• learn more about housing for newcomers from the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation