{"id":47818,"date":"2025-03-24T17:14:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T21:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prepareforcanada.com\/?p=47818"},"modified":"2025-11-14T14:51:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:51:55","slug":"sharing-accommodation-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepareforcanada.com\/blog\/housing\/housing-affordability\/sharing-accommodation-in-canada","title":{"rendered":"Living in Canada: How to Share a Home as a Newcomer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For newcomers and international students arriving in Canada renting a room in a home can be an affordable housing option. Most arriving newcomers seek a short-term rental, and then search for a longer-term rental. Many also consider sharing accommodation with others as a cost-effective option. But there is another solution for newcomers: home-sharing, or renting a room. Discover how renting a room in Canada can be a great solution for renters and homeowners!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home-sharing is not new to Canada. For example, other home-sharing programs focus on helping students find affordable accommodation or keeping seniors living and aging in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home-sharing Solutions for Newcomers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sparrow, a Canadian home-sharing platform helps immigrants explore and find rooms for rent and home-share solutions. It also looks to enlist newcomer homeowners as hosts. To achieve this, Sparrow has teamed with Prepare for Canada to make hosts, and rooms, available to newcomers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This Sparrow-Prepare for Canada initiative<\/strong> provides immigrants and international students with accommodation sharing, another alternative to apartments, condos, or house renting. “We need to make it easier and safer for newcomers to find good housing options in Canada,” said Oren Singer, co-founder and CEO of Sparrow. “There’s a ton of underutilized housing space in the form of spare rooms and basements.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“With the cost of living so high these days, many homeowners turn to home-sharing to supplement income.” The rooms-for-newcomers project is timely and affordable. Whether you want to earn additional money to increase your disposable income or build an emergency fund,<\/a> renting out a room can be a great option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though rental prices and vacancy rates are now easing across Canada, affordable housing remains an issue for many newcomers arriving each month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We need to make it easier and safer for newcomers to find good housing options in Canada.”<\/p>Oren Singer, Co-founder and CEO, Sparrow<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“We’re proud to collaborate with Prepare for Canada to help connect and match newcomers to places they can call home,” says Singer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How “Rooms for Newcomers” Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sparrow’s home-sharing platform matches hosts with spare bedrooms to newcomers and international students seeking affordable rooms for rent in Canada. The company also sees its business as building social connections and increasing the quality of life for Canadians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Renting your first home in Canada | Options & solutions for newcomers<\/h3>\n

Searching for your first home in Canada? Join this exclusive session for key insights on housing market conditions, affordable options, and renting without credit history. Tailored for newcomers settling in the next six months, register now for valuable tips and a free guide!<\/p>\n REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/a>\n <\/article>\n

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Rental Costs in Canada Remain High<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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In addition to the demand and competition for affordable rentals, rental prices remain high, particularly in popular destinations for newcomers like Toronto and Vancouver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In February 2025, a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver cost $2,522 a month, while a one-bedroom in Toronto was $2,353. Even a one-bedroom in Saskatoon, one of Canada’s most affordable cities for rent prices, was $1,217 monthly. Homeshare rents, at approximately $964 a month, are significantly cheaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sharing Accommodation is an Affordable Option for Newcomers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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“Basements or rooms for rent on the Sparrow platform are more affordable than the average studio or 1-bedroom rental rates,” says Singer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“We’ve been helping newcomers make connections that simplify the immigration journey for over 12 years,” says Dave Frattini, managing partner of Prepare for Canada and Rentals for Newcomers<\/a>. “Sparrow is a purpose-driven home-sharing\u00a0platform and community that makes renting a room easy, safe, and affordable.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Together, we\u2019re on a mission to help newcomers enter the rental market faster and easier. We connect newcomers with homeowners to help them find safe and affordable housing. We look forward to connecting with homeowners who want to build this innovative housing solution for newcomers.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Focus on Safety and Security<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sparrow’s rigorous matching and identity verification process ensures safety and security. Its matching process involves background checks, home share agreements, and screening interviews. Sparrow also matches based on compatibility to enable better connections based on habits, lifestyles, and living preferences. Newcomer homeowners and renters can sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sparrow does credit and background checks to match people based on compatibility. Hosts can list their rooms for rent and create a FREE profile<\/a>. Sparrow charges the host a fee when they receive the first rental payment from the housemate. Housemates do not pay Sparrow fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anyone who becomes a host should check with their insurance company to see if they need additional coverage for home-sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The host service fee (a one-time only fee) depends on the length of the home share contract and ranges from 25 – 100% of one month’s rent, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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HOMESHARE TERM LENGTH<\/th>FEE
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1 – 3 months<\/td>25%<\/td><\/tr>
4 – 5 months<\/td>50%<\/td><\/tr>
6 – 9 months<\/td>75%<\/td><\/tr>
10 – 12 months<\/td>100%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Toronto Home Sharing Host Pays it Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The lack of affordable housing for renters, plus population growth and inflation, inspired homeowner Karen H. to become a Sparrow host. “I decided I could pay it forward by helping somebody get into a space to live at a reasonable price.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Karine S., who rents a room from Karen in Toronto, said that initially, she didn’t know about the Sparrow concept of housemates and renting a room. She said she was hesitant at first because of previous issues with roommates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“I was a little bit wary going into this,” she said, “but the thing that clarified it for me was finding a compatible match (Karen).”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Watch the video to learn about Karen’s successful home-sharing experience!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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