Everything you need to know about living, working or studying in Montreal

To find out everything about housing in Canada, we have created a full guide for you: Finding accommodation in Canada. We also have some tips for how to find housing.

However, here’s our advice adapted specifically for Montreal.

Temporary accommodation in Montreal

Youth hostels are an economical form of accommodation and perfect for your first few days or weeks in the city. They also allow you to meet other people who have just arrived, which is ideal for starting to build your network!

If a youth hostel doesn’t appeal to you, consider booking a room at a hotel or on an accommodation rental platform like Airbnb.

Shared accommodation in Montreal

Shared accommodation has many advantages: namely that you can split the rent and utilities across multiple people. You may end up making friends, either with locals or other immigrants. Also, if you join a houseshare that’s already been established, you may find you don’t have to contribute to purchasing furniture or other shared communal items.

In Montreal, house sharing is common and ads are numerous on platforms like Kijiji, Facebook, Craigslist, etc.

On average, expect to pay a minimum of CA$750 per month. Prices depend, of course, on the neighbourhood, the size of the apartment, the number of roommates, the bills included in the advertised price (internet, electricity, heating, etc.) and whether the room is furnished or unfurnished.

It’s also possible to sublet a room, for example a student interning for only a few weeks or months won’t want to commit to a long-term lease. Subletting is ideal as a first step, as it gives you time to find the right neighbourhood for longer-term accommodation, or to decide if Montreal is the right city for you to settle in.

Note that it is harder to land shared accommodation as a couple, but not impossible.

Renting in Montreal

Montreal apartments are, most of the time (except condos), made up of two or three floors in a small building. Montreal architecture is characterised by long staircases, often spiral staircases… aesthetic but not actually practical in the ice or snow!

When visiting your apartment, remember to check the insulation and the condition of the plumbing and electricity, which can sometimes be ageing. In Montreal, it’s difficult to find renovated or brand new apartments within a reasonable price range. You often have to make this concession, especially if your budget is modest.

Some wealthier IEC permit holders choose condo housing (the abbreviation for condominium). These are modern, more luxurious residences, usually with a swimming pool and/or gym and other amenities included.

You’ll undoubtedly find advertisements mention “semi-basement” or “basement flats”. Basement flats are common in Canada. They are generally cheaper, but also less bright (they still have windows, but these are often smaller), noisier and more humid. If you don’t plan to spend a lot of time at home, basements can be a good opportunity to save some money.

Subletting is common in Montreal and perfectly legal within the framework set out by the Régie du logement du Québec. If you only want to stay for a few months, or you don’t want to buy furniture and don’t mind moving around a few times, subletting might be a good option compared to signing a long-term lease.

Note that it is difficult to find accommodation allowing pets in Montreal, especially dogs. There is a real housing shortage in Montreal and landlords will always be tempted to rent to tenants who, on paper, have “simple” situations, i.e. no risk of damage from a pet. Be prepared to wait longer to find the right apartment or house that allows you to bring your animals.

Insure your accommodation

Insuring your house is not a legal obligation in Quebec. However, the state of the plumbing and electricity sometimes leaves something to be desired. Also, some landlords may request that you purchase tenant’s insurance.

To avoid any problems (especially in winter, where accidents can happen from frozen pipes!), we strongly advise you to take out home insurance.