Housing Information

There are many types of living accommodations across the city. Most typically for students, you can lease a private room in a shared apartment or house or rent your own private apartment. There are options of furnished or unfurnished.

Most apartments usually start with a one-year contract, but it’s possible to find more short-term or sublet rentals. Rentals typically start their leases on the first or the 15th of each month.

Most apartment rental websites will show results based on number of bedrooms. Be careful to pay attention to room listings – some may appear as if they’re private apartment listings but they’re actually in a shared space, with someone renting out a room.

One other thing to make sure you’re clear on with listings and landlords is if you have a pet. Some buildings have rules against pets living on their property.

When you're looking for an apartment, it’s important to stick to a realistic monthly budget. What can you afford for rent, on top of monthly utility bills, insurance, dining and groceries, transportation, school supplies, clothing, entertainment and other expenses? If possible, it’s best to look for a monthly rent that is no more than 30-40% of your income or overall monthly budget. If you need help with paying for school, which affects your budget, please explore our financial aid options.

Pay close attention to apartment listings regarding utility bills and laundry. Some places include some utilities in the rent, others don’t and would be considered extra costs. If an apartment doesn’t have laundry, you may need to go to a laundromat.

Rental costs in Toronto are at an all-time high, creating a lack of affordable housing. Living in a shared space helps to bring down your monthly cost of living, as well as looking outside of the downtown core.

There are plenty of articles written about apartment-hunting budgeting tips – this is a crucial step to do your research with, so you don’t find yourself in a tricky situation later!

Apartments are generally the most expensive in the downtown core and close to subway stops. If you expand your search, you are likely to find cheaper rent. Of course, you’ll want to be somewhere that’s easily accessible by transit to get downtown for classes, so keep that in mind while you’re looking. How long would your commute be? Are there multiple ways to get to and from your home, in case one route is impacted by delays? Would you have to take the TTC or GO Transit?

Most apartment listing websites let you search and filter via a map, so you can compare costs and work from there.

When you’re looking for housing, it’s important to determine your needs list vs. your wants list. Here are some examples to keep in mind:

• What do you need in a home to live there?
• Does it need to be close to the subway or can you take a bus to the subway?
• Do you need laundry in the unit or building, or can you live with going to a laundromat?
• Do you need a bathtub or are you okay with just a shower?
• Do utilities need to be part of the rent or can you budget them separately?
• Do you need windows facing a certain direction for optimal sunlight?
• Do you need an elevator or any other accessible features?

Establishing these lists will help you choose where to look and live with more ease.