The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
When it comes to renting in Montreal, expect the unexpected. The local rental market plays by its own rules and is unlike any other city in Canada. As a seasoned Toronto renter, it took me a little while to get used to the way Quebec rental units are posted and how to prepare for a move.
From the unofficial July 1 moving day to deciphering how many bedrooms a unit has when it's described as a "four-and-a-half," here are some things you should know when you start your hunt for an apartment to rent in Montreal.
The best websites to use to find apartments in Montreal
When I first moved to Montreal, I was unsure which apartment listing sites were reliable and comprehensive. Since Quebec is a French-speaking province, many of the Toronto resources I was accustomed to offered fewer listings or were missing key details.
I found the best websites to use for searching for Montreal apartments are:
On these websites, like any during a housing hunt, it's always best to be ready to call the leasing agent when you're interested in a property. I sent countless emails and inquiries and never heard back. Trying to make a personal connection on the phone is always the best way to go especially when you’re trying to show you’re highly interested.
The areas that are transit dead zones
Montreal has great public transportation compared to other Canadian cities. In fact, I would claim that it is significantly better than Toronto. With four metro lines and over 200 bus routes across the city, you can get to most places using transit. Still, some areas are better connected than others, and there are definitely "dead zones" in any city.
One helpful tip I was given was to view maps of the city with the transit filter overlay on Google Maps. That way you can see how many lines cross over the area to make sure you are well connected in your neighbourhood.
The charm of older units
Montreal has some of the most beautiful rental units I have ever seen in Canada. The historical architecture was one of the main reasons I wanted to move here in the first place. The local rental market feels unique because there are heritage homes with multiple units on different floors that aren’t as expensive as a similar spot would be in another major city.
With the beauty and historical charm do come some setbacks, however. Namely, Montreal's iconic spiral metal staircases leading to the second and third-floor units of townhomes. They can cause some issues when moving furniture. Not only are they narrow and tricky to navigate, but a moving company may be required to carry furniture in and out of the apartment which adds extra costs.
Historic properties can also have minimal insulation. It's not uncommon to have a drafty exterior wall or older windows that let in the cold. These units most likely don’t have central heating or cooling, which can cause higher utility bills. That brings me to the next point…
Estimating electricity costs with the Quebec Hydro tool
One of the common worries that I have about renting is not knowing how high my monthly utility bills will be, especially when considering cold winters and older properties that may not have energy-efficient appliances, heating, or cooling.
While hunting for a place this year, a landlord told me about the Quebec Hydro Price Estimator where users can look up the address and unit number to find the past average annual cost of hydro.
All you have to do is type in the street number and postal code and you will be able to select a unit and see what the current tenants pay annually. It's a great option when you’re crunching numbers for your budget and comparing units of interest.
One year leases
A major difference I found between Montreal and Toronto was the inability to go month to month once your lease has ended. In Ontario, landlords must offer tenants the option to continue renting from them on a short-term basis.
I was surprised to learn this is not the case in Quebec. Your landlord may contact you up to four months before your lease is finished to ask if you would like to renew. You need to give your landlord similar notice if you are not planning to stay in your apartment.
Pet-friendly units are less common
During my housing search, I have found it common for Montreal rentals do not allow pets, or at least highly discourage them. In Ontario, any mention of a no-pets policy in a lease is void by law.
Landlords or rental companies can not legally disallow someone from having a four-legged friend unless it is proven to cause severe allergic reactions to other tenants. In Quebec, landlords can prohibit animals from residing in a rental unit.
Have your paperwork ready
People always say to have your documents ready when you're on the hunt for a place to live, but it's hard to know what you will need when you are first looking.
Landlords will almost always make you fill out a formal application that will ask you for your personal information, your income, the phone number of your employer to confirm income, your previous address, and the name and number of up to two prior landlords. Sometimes they will ask for a letter confirming your employment and salary and a copy of a credit score from a reliable company like Equifax or TransUnion.
If your income doesn't meet the landlord's requirements for the unit, they might ask you to sign the lease with a guarantor. In this situation, you'll also need to provide the information for this person. A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you're unable to. They're typically a financially stable individual, like a parent or close relative, who vouches for your reliability as a tenant.
Having all this information ready will save you time in the long run. And you will want to get your application in quickly as the market can be fairly competitive.
Whether you’re moving into a historical home in the Plateau or a trendy new build in Griffintown, you are sure to find the perfect place with a little patience. Rest assured, your ideal Montreal home awaits.
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