Join the Scotiabank StartRight® Program designed for Newcomers‡ and get up to $2,200* in value in the first year.
Written By
Steve Tustin
Mar 6, 2025
•Housing
Finding affordable rental apartments in Canada can be challenging for newcomers and international students. This overview provides valuable tips on how to find accommodation in Canada and prepare for success in your housing search. While finding a short-term rental before you arrive is vital, the hard work is finding affordable long-term housing. Researching the housing market before you arrive will give you information about rent prices in Canada. It will also help you compete in a tight, low-vacancy rental market.
Rental prices in Canada soared in recent years. Prices rose in Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Regina, as people left high-rent cities like Toronto and Vancouver searching for cheaper rent. Only recently have prices started to fall, a trend experts say will continue throughout 2025. However, while rental prices are decreasing in many cities, cost remains an issue.
Many newcomers turn to Rentals for Newcomers (RFN) to find accommodation in Canada.
So why has this online site become so popular with newcomers seeking their first rental home in Canada? Because RFN helps people avoid the headaches, heartaches, and expenses of their rental search by promoting landlords who value newcomers.
For immigrants arriving in Canada’s competitive rental market, sites like Rentals for Newcomers are invaluable. Plus, it’s FREE, but you must create an account! Register for free and connect with landlords.
Rent prices vary across Canada and some cities offer more affordable housing options. Researching and comparing rental prices can help you identify the most cost-effective cities. It’s equally important to ensure that suitable job opportunities exist. Ideally, you want to avoid making a costly secondary move to a new city.
Newcomers wanting to find accommodation in Canada must research the rental market before and after arriving. Knowing the rental landscape can help you find your first home more quickly. Rentals for Newcomers is a great place to begin research to find affordable apartments in Canada.
In addition to hosting rental listings from across Canada, RFN provides:
Dave Frattini, the Managing Partner at Prepare for Canada and Rentals for Newcomers, says RFN is an invaluable tool to find accommodation in Canada.
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!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR“Searching for affordable accommodation in Canada is more difficult than ever for newcomers,” said Frattini. He offers these tips to prepare to find rental accommodation in Canada:
Frattini emphasizes that “newcomers must put their best foot forward when they meet landlords. Landlords can select the pick of the crop tenants for affordable rentals in prime locations.”
“Rentals for Newcomers is a great example of a partner agency,” said Jesse Greenwell, head of Communications Culture and Inclusivity at Mainstreet Equity Corp. Mainstreet is a leading real estate company for mid-market apartment rentals in Western Canada, “which can help prepare newcomers for Canada’s rental market.”
RFN is part of Rentsync, a North American market leader for property technology. This gives RFN access to the latest rental technology, tools, insights, and trends.
Using Rentsync’s rental technology software network to verify landlords, Rentals for Newcomers ensures that scam listings are not on its site to protect newcomers. Sites like Craigslist and Kijiji are vulnerable to rental scams that target newcomers.
“Importantly, our listings are well managed,” said Frattini. “The platform is driven digitally and manually. Rentsync knows the landlords that are listed on RFN.” Frattini added, “We inform and update our audience about scams in the rental market in blog posts.”
Although rent prices are slowly decreasing and vacancy rates are improving, finding accommodation in Canada remains challenging for newcomers. Experts say this trend will continue throughout 2025. So, it’s vital to research and prepare to find your first long-term rental. Using Rentals for Newcomers can make your search easier, and faster, and help you avoid rental scams.
WRITTEN BY
Steve Tustin
Senior Editor, Prepare for Canada
Steve Tustin is the Editor for Rentals for Newcomers and a contributing editor for Prepare for Canada. He is also the former managing editor of Storeys.com and a former senior editor at the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star.
© Prepare for Canada 2025
Is Home Co-ownership a Solution for Newcomers to Canada?
Can Newcomers Rent-to-Own a Home in Canada?
Living in Canada: How to Share a Home as a Newcomer
Best London, Ontario Neighbourhoods For Renting