Finding a place that meets your needs and makes you feel at home is a key step when you’re studying in a new city. Luckily, in Montréal, the possibilities are endless for student accommodation. You could go for the student residences, rent a place by yourself or share with roommates—it’s totally up to you!
Sign a lease anytime of year
You may have heard about the famous “Moving Day” in Montréal, when you can find flocks moving their stuff on the streets every July 1st. But before you sign up for summer classes just to secure a place to live, know that you can rent in Montréal anytime of year. July 1st may be the most popular date to sign a new lease in the city, but there are no laws to stop you from moving when it’s most convenient for you. So instead of stressing about finding a place to live, you can kick back and enjoy your summer.
Check the tenants’ rights and obligations
To make life easier, the Quebec government provides all the information you could need on tenants’ rights and obligations. Did you know, for example, that you don’t have to hand over a deposit to your landlord…even if they ask you nicely?
Besides, some landlords might request a credit check.
Get to know the local renting lingo
Montréal has its own special lingo when it comes to rentals, from 3 ½ and 4 ½ apartments, to furnished and semi-furnished lodgings. Finding a place to live is one of the key steps to follow when you’re coming here to study. Before you start visiting potential apartments, here are some terms you should know:
- Furnished apartment: all furniture and appliances are included
- Semi-furnished apartment: the four main appliances (fridge, stove, washer and dryer) are included
- Non-furnished apartment: basically the floors, walls and ceiling are included
When in doubt, just ask your landlord where you stand.
Another thing you need to know when renting in Québec, is how apartment sizes are listed. The halves in 3 ½, 4 ½ or 5 ½ are used to describe the number of rooms. For example, a 3 ½ includes a living room, kitchen and bedroom, while the “½” refers to a full bathroom (toilet, sink, bath and shower), however big or small.
You should also know that a 4 ½ listing doesn’t necessarily include two closed bedrooms, as a double living room can sometimes count as two bedrooms. Talk to your landlord to make sure you have all the information before moving into your new place.
Live your best student life by lodging in a residence
Living in student accommodation is one of the most convenient and popular options for foreign students. To meet the high demand, Greater Montréal has more than 20 student residences, all located close to the different university campuses. And they’re all filled with students from around the globe—a great opportunity to make new friends and explore the city together!
Even more reasons to move into a student residence
Living in student accommodation comes with a whole host of benefits. All services are usually included, from heating to laundry, and even gym membership, in some cases. And you don’t have to worry about buying furniture as it’s provided for you. With all that money you’ll be saving on monthly rent, you’ll be free to enjoy all the city has to offer!
Share with roommates like a true Montrealer
Almost every Montrealer has bunked with roommates at some point. And for students, sharing accommodation is almost a tradition. Throughout Greater Montréal, you can find homes of all styles and sizes, with 2, 3 or even 8 bedrooms. And you can take your pick of safe and fun neighbourhoods to call home.
All year round, you can find people looking for roommates on Kijiji or local Facebook groups. So, whether you like to raise pet ferrets, play the trombone or any kind of hobby in between, you won’t have a hard time finding compatible matches.
According to a 2019 Numbeo study, you can expect to pay an average of $840 CAD a month for a 3-bedroom apartment in the downtown core, and $598 CAD a month on the outskirts—pretty reasonable considering all the fun you’ll have living with new friends.
Live by yourself (without going broke)
If you prefer to live alone without having to share the remote, great news! Montréal is ranked as one the top student cities when it comes to rental prices for studios and one-bedroom apartments. A whole lot more affordable than Melbourne, London, San Francisco, Paris, New York and other major cities!
Finding the right place to live while you study can be confusing with so many factors to consider. But here in Montréal, finding accommodation is easy and international students are welcomed with open arms.
