Types of student accommodation in Canada

The advantages of staying with a backpacker when you arrive in Canada are many:

• Global chains: As in the case of hotels, there are backpackers that operate worldwide, with headquarters in the main cities of the world.
• You can book the same day: They usually have free beds, so you don't have to be very proactive. In high season, such as national holidays, Christmas or New Year, it is possible that you have to book in advance.
• Best prices for partners: Some backpackers give you the option to become a member and receive discounts and special prices.
• You will not get bored at night: Pub Crawling, Cinema Night ... In the backpackers there are many fun activities where you can relax and meet people.
• Insert Coin: Most hostels have vending machines, games, coffee machines, laundry ...
• You will make many friends: You will meet many people in the same condition who, most likely, will become your first friends in Canada.
• Privileged situation to move: They are usually located in the center of cities, making them strategic enclaves from which you can comfortably discover the neighborhoods where you can live in Canada.
• No need to pay in advance: You can extend your stay for days without problems, making it the perfect place to live in Canada while you are looking for your definitive home.

Although it also has some drawbacks:

• Little personal space: They can be a bit uncomfortable when you stay for a long time, as you won't have much space for yourself or your things.
• Little privacy: Normally you share a room with 4 or 8 people from anywhere in the world. Some can be very loud or messy, so you will have to go with an open mind and few prejudices.
• Difficult to find a gap on certain dates: Being such an inexpensive option, you may have trouble finding this type of accommodation in high season.

• You choose your roommates. There is nothing better to enjoy living in Canada to the fullest than doing it with the right people. Living with like-minded people will give you a multitude of unforgettable moments.
• Improve English at home. If you live with people of other nationalities, speaking English will be essential to be able to communicate in your day-to-day life, and that will come in handy when it comes to loosening up in a more relaxed environment.
• Fully furnished. Shared houses in Canada are usually fully equipped and ready for you to move in.
• Laughter assured. When you share a flat, even everyday tasks like putting washing machines or cooking food will be moments of fun and sharing.

Although like everything in life, sharing a flat in Canada can also have its drawbacks:

• Leaving a deposit is mandatory. To be able to live in a shared apartment, you will have to leave a two-month bond (deposit) that will be returned when you leave the house and after checking that there are no damages.
• Obey the rules. Normally, shared flats have a series of rules and regulations that have been previously established by roommates and that must be followed to guarantee good coexistence and respect. This usually includes cleaning shifts, use of common areas, party permits or inviting people, etc.
• Not suitable for short stays. Typically room rentals in Canada are for a minimum of four weeks.

Choosing a student residence to live in Canada has many advantages, including:

• You will live with people from all over the world. The environments of the residences are as multicultural as Canada itself. You will be able to get up close to the tastes and customs of many different countries, and that is great to open your mind.
• You can cook whenever you want. In a student residence you can use the kitchen to prepare your meals, although you can also choose an accommodation plan with meals included and not step in the kitchen during your entire stay in Canada. This option is great even if you have special dietary needs, since they have menus adapted to different types of food.
• Independence. Living in a residence allows you to be surrounded in your day to day by students like you, so you will never feel alone. But at the same time, you will be free to come and go as you please, without having to explain to anyone.

On the other hand, a student residence also has its drawbacks.

• Weekly cleaning In many student residences there is no cleaning service, but it is the students themselves who will be in charge of cleaning the common spaces weekly. Despite being mandatory, some students may skip their homework and find unwashed dishes and dirty spaces in the dorm.
• Parties and parties. We all like parties when we go, but not so much if we have to get up early the next day or have to study. When you live in a residence, you will have to cope with more parties than you would like.

The main advantages of living in Canada in a family home are:

• Meals are included. Typically your Canadian family will provide you with two meals on weekdays and three on weekends. Keep in mind that according to Canadian customs, dinner is the most important meal of the day, in which the whole family gathers around the table and is the most abundant and filling. Lunches or lunch are usually lighter.

• Like at home but in Canada. Families usually carry out plans and activities in which you can participate as one of the family. Barbecues, trips, visits to Natural Parks and monuments ... will make your visit to Canada much richer.

• You will speak english all the time. In order to communicate with them, you will have to speak in English and that will come in handy to get you loose with the language.

• Insider's tips! Who better than a true Canadian to give you advice on Canada? Your family will be able to provide you with first-hand information about places to visit, information about public transport, the best routes to get to your college and other tips that will make your daily life much easier.

Living in a family home in Canada also has its downsides. Some of them are:

• Obey the rules of the house. Like arrival times and cleaning shifts.
• Less contact with other students. Canadians are super friendly and nice people, but living with a family, it is possible that your leisure with other students is limited, since your day to day will be with the family.
• Far from the city. Your Canadian family may live a lot further from the city center than you would like.

Is blocks of residential buildings They share a series of services and facilities. These facilities are usually gym, library, pool, laundry and sometimes a small shop. Depending on the services you have and how new the condo is, prices will vary. In addition, in order to rent a home in a condo, they usually ask for the credit score.

And beware! The cheapest options are usually older condos, where problems with plumbing, heating, and general maintenance are the order of the day. So before paying anything, make sure you inspect the house and its facilities well to avoid unwanted surprises.

You will be able to live in Canada in your own one bedroom apartment in an old condo for about $ 1400 CAD a month and in a new one for about $ 1900 CAD.

There are few more bohemian things live in a basement. If this is your dream, or you just want to live alone or with someone else without spending too much money, in Canada it is normal for basements are reformed as homes. They are usually studios or have only one room. Having been rrecently formed, many will be in good condition and within cities, but the windows are scarce and they are usually colder and wetter than a normal home.

Living in Canada on a basement can cost between $ 800 CAD and $ 1100 CAD per month.

There are two ways to search accommodation in Canada. You can walk through the neighborhoods that interest you in search of "for rent" signs. You are also likely to find this type of notice on the notice boards of your study center.

And the other way, is to take a tour of the internet and its various pages for renting houses and rooms in shared flats. To make your life a little easier, here is a list of the main home search pages you can start with:

• Roomgo. Si quieres rent a room or you have a room to rent, here you can find roommates. It has good quality photos and it is easy to get an idea of ​​what the house will be like before seeing it in person.
• Roomies. It is also focused on find roommates. People create ads with photos and descriptions of the available room and of themselves in order to find an ideal roommate.
• Roomster. Works globally and lets you look for a roommate, house or room in the main cities.
• Kijiji. It is not a portal specialized in the search for housing, but rather in looking for anything you need, including accommodation. It's easy to use and you have the option to filter by neighborhood.
• Craigslist. Like Kijiji, it is a page where people buy and sell everything imaginable. It has a differentiated section for search for houses in Canada.
• Capreit. Website specialized in housing search. It has a special section for students where it collects homes that are near university areas and that are certified with a series of qualities and services.
• Gottarent. A very popular option in Canada. The page allows you to search for different accommodation options, including complete homes and individual rooms. It also allows filtering by zones.
• The Rent Board. Like Capreit, it has a specific section for student rental and it has options in all Canadian provinces.
• PadMapper. It works in both Canada and the United States and is specialized in renting complete apartments.

To rent a home or room in Canada, You will have to present a series of documents, whether you rent through an agency or an individual.

If you rent through an agency, the process includes a bit more paperwork, which can be a more complicated option if you have just arrived in Canada.

The papers that you will have to present will be a proof that you have a job, your income and references from former roommates or landlords.

Furthermore, the estancia mÃnima usually one year.

If you rent through a private party, the task will be much easier And the impression you have made on the landlord and your roommates will greatly influence. In addition, they are usually more flexible regarding the length of your stay. The process will include filling out an application and you will also have to provide some proof.

In both cases, the first month you will have to give what Canadians call the "first and last" (the first and last month in advance), which consists of paying the first month and giving another as security.

To help you be more prepared and catch them all on the fly, we have prepared this list of words that will be very useful when looking for accommodation to live in Canada.

And it is that, if English is not already short enough, Canadians like to use abbreviations when writing their ads. Ready to figure it all out?

• appl: appliances. Accessories and household appliances that the house has.
• apt: appartment. Apartment.
• avail: available. Available.
• lft: loft. Study.
• b / r: Bedroom. Bedroom
• BMT: basement. Basement.
• cbl: Cable. Cable TV.
• d / w: Dishwasher. Dishwasher.
• f / f: Fully furnished. Fully furnished.
• HW: Hot water. Hot water.
• Agcy: Agency. Agency.
• Utrm: Utilities room. Laundry.
• Lux: Luxury. Luxury
• Ceilfan: Ceiling fan. Ceiling fan.
• Ren: Renovated. Reformed.
• dep rec: Deposit Required. Deposit required.
• hydro: Electricity and gas / Power. Water and light.
• n / p: no pets. No pets.
• n / s: No smoking. Non smokers.
• refs: References. References.
• shdr: Shared room. Shared room.
• d / w: Drier and washer. Washer and dryer.