7 Important Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment in Canada

Confused about what questions to ask before renting an apartment?

As per several realtors’ reports, the Canadian rental market has been growing at a good pace for the past few years. The consistent expansion of Canada attracts people from all over the world, be it for jobs, business or education. Thus, the apartments for rent cover a huge market in most cities of the country.

However, the rental market can quickly become extensive and overwhelming for one owing to the availability of multiple property options. Focusing on your needs and asking the right questions to your would-be landlord is, therefore, crucial to getting the perfect rented property.

In this article, let’s see the important questions to ask your landlord before renting to initiate seamless communication and negotiation between both parties.

3 Important Factors to Consider Before Renting an Apartment

Renting an apartment doesn’t just bring a big questionnaire for the landlords but you as well. Therefore, it is important to structure your rental hunt as per your needs. But before you knock on your landlord’s door, here are three key things you need to consider.

Affordability

Always calculate your affordability and make a detailed budget before looking for rental apartments. Do not forget to include rental advance, security deposit, and renter’s insurance in your budget. The budget also depends on the type of property you choose. A high ceiling apartment incurs a steeper rent than a small modern flat.

Property Size and Location

When looking for apartments for rent, always consider whether you will be staying alone or with your family and select rental property sizes accordingly.

Next to the property size comes location. The property you chose might be the most beautiful in the world, but if it adds an hour of commute with increased traveling cost, it might not be worth your rent and time.

Age of the Property

Analyze prospective rental properties to comprehend their condition. See, if the locks are fine, the elevator is functional, and the walls are made in a way that they may not dampen in the winters nor cause congestion in the summers. Assess the property from a buyer’s perspective to ascertain that you will not have to compromise or spend much of your time on renovation or to fix after moving in.

Questions to Ask Your Landlord Before Renting an Apartment

Here are some important questions to ask your landlord before renting an apartment.

What Amenities are Included?

When you knock on the landlord’s door, the first question to ask the landlord after the monthly rent is about shared and personal facilities. Think of all the amenities that a rental home provides and ask your landlord for the same.

Amenities like a dishwasher, on-site laundry, high-speed internet, and pool might increase your rent if not included. So think about whether you will use them and if not, try to negotiate these amenities against your monthly rent.

Will You Get Free Parking with the Apartment?

This is one of the essential questions to ask about apartments when looking for rental spaces. Free parking makes your stay convenient, secure, and affordable. However, when you know about the provision for parking space with a rental apartment, inquire if it is a pay-to-park option or if there is free parking available. Always count this factor in your rental budget accordingly.

What are the Pet Policies?

Although the rental market is becoming more flexible with time, still it’s not uncommon to see pet restrictions on rental properties. Therefore, if you, along with your fur-ball, are the tenants of your prospective rental property, one of the important questions to ask your landlord would be about any pet restrictions. Also, ask if there is any deposit or pet rent you are required to pay.

Is There a Good Public Transit Facility in the Area?

If you do not have a vehicle or prefer public transport, ensure the availability of public transit in the area before renting an apartment. Ask the landlord if the area has an easy commute, good public transit, and appropriate traffic flow. Also, check the walking distance to the bus stop or a subway.

What are the Area’s Security Measures?

Security is not just an integral part of you but also your family and assets. Thus, make sure to ask your landlord about the security measures of the area in terms of street parking, key less access to the building and crime rate of the locality.

What is the Square Footage of the Property?

Another important question to ask about apartments is their square footage. You can request your landlord to walk you through the floor plan that details the square footage per room. That way, you will be able to comprehend how spacious it is, whether it matches the apartment specifications and caters to your needs or not.

Question Your Must-Haves

When on a rental property hunt, it is quite easy to fall for just the space shown. But, that isn’t enough in reality. So, make sure to ask your landlord about these four essentials as mentioned below.

• Always ask for the right number of rooms depending on your family size.
• Ask for a complete kitchen.
• If you are fond of natural light, make sure to consider the number of windows and the placement of balconies in your apartment.
• Ensure your rental apartment has east-facing windows if you prefer a big kitchen window for maximum light exposure and an excellent view.

Final Thoughts

The rental market in Canada has been on a constant boom for the past few years. Due to the versatility of the rental properties in quantity and quality, it’s important to plan your hunt diligently, starting from affordability to the property size and location.

Make sure the rent is worth the property you choose. Apart from reaching out to a real estate expert to help you out, you must also question your landlord about the property’s age, amenities, neighbourhood, etc.

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