See the Cost of Living in Peel for rental and housing costs.
What You Should Know
Before you arrive
It is important to think about where you want to live even before you arrive in Canada. Finding housing before you arrive has useful information that may help you.
After you arrive
When you arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport, you will have to speak with a customs officer and pick up your luggage. Afterwards you may go to the Immigration, Reception and Information Services (I.R.I.S.), booth located in Terminals 2 and 3 of the airport to get basic information in many languages – in writing or verbally.
If you do not have a place to stay when you arrive and are looking for short-term accommodation, I.R.I.S. has a list of low-cost hotels and travellers' hostels in the Greater Toronto Area.
Finding a place to live in Peel Region
There are plenty of housing options in Peel Region to fit every budget and lifestyle.
Immediately after your arrival, contact one of the Settlement Service Organizations in Peel or in Caledon:
Caledon Community Services
Royal Courtyards, Upper Level
18 King Street East,
Bolton, ON L7E 1E8
www.ccs4u.org
Tel: 905-951-2300 or 905-584-9460
Toll-free: 1-800-985-2471
These organizations offer advice on finding a place to live, whether you want to rent or buy. Most newcomers rent an apartment as their first home. Think about where you want to live and how much you can afford to pay before you start apartment hunting.
Most apartments are rented by the month, although some are rented by the week. In general, rent can be quite high. You can expect housing to be one of your largest monthly expenses.
See Cost of Living in Peel for rental and housing costs across Peel Region.
If you decide to rent an apartment, you usually need a co-signer or a reference. A co-signer is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you cannot. A reference is someone who can confirm your background.
Your rent may include the cost of utilities (electricity, water, heating), but sometimes it does not. If the listing says "$1,000 + utilities" this means that you must pay $1,000 for rent each month and pay your utility bills separately.
It is important that you know your rights as a tenant. Please see Tenant’s rights and responsibilities for more information.
Useful resources
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provides excellent information on rental and housing across Canada.
- Visit their special section on Housing for Newcomers (translated in many languages) or:
- Call their toll-free number at 1-800-668-2642.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada has detailed information about what should be considered when looking for a place to live.
The Newcomer's Guide to Canadian Housing is an online guide that explains how to rent or buy a home in Canada. The guide describes different types of housing and ownership, how to look for a place to rent, landlord-tenant relationships and how to buy and finance a house. This guide is prepared by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.