Newcomer’s Guide to Renting Your First Apartment

Permanent residence applicants with a valid Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) finally have the permission to come to Canada! Good news like this reminds us that we are on the right track to overcome the health crisis.

So here we are. Your departure day is coming soon. As you know, the first thing you will need in your new country is accommodation. Follow our advice to find your first apartment in Quebec.

A Cozy Pied-À-Terre

PROMIS gives newcomer women the possibility to rent a private room at Residence Maria-Goretti, a space entirely reserved for women. The residence has 220 furnished rooms. The landladies share common areas including the kitchen, laundry room and fitness room. The spirit of community that prevails is perfect for connecting with people who are living, or have lived, the immigration process like you.

Other Montreal shelters welcome women, men, couples and families. You will find more information about them at community centres, cultural centres or organizations like PROMIS.

Finding an Apartment in Montreal

In Quebec, official rental agreements are made through a lease, which is a printed contract signed by the tenant and the landlord. This document contains several information, including the price, rules and inclusion details (amenities such as electricity and appliances may be at the expense of the tenant or the owner). The agreement usually lasts a year: Although they do exist, units that can be rented one month at a time are scarce.

Quebecers usually use the Internet to find accommodation. Here are some popular websites that can help you search for an apartment: Kijiji, LesPAC, Logis-Québec and Immo-Appart. Sometimes owners also post ads in Facebook groups like this one.

Social Housing: An Affordable Option

Subsidized by the government, social housing is affordable because its goal is not profit. Its purpose is to house people with low or modest incomes by giving them decent and affordable lodging.

There are three types of social housing in Quebec. First, there is low-income housing (HLM), where the rent corresponds to 25% of the household’s income. Next comes cooperative housing, which is managed by its residents. Finally, we have non-profit organizations that belong, as you can probably guess, to NPOs. Since they are often intended for people with specific needs, such as the homeless population, their board of directors is usually made up of tenants and volunteers.

There are several eligibility criteria for renting social housing, including being a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen. If it’s not your case, you will have to wait before submitting your application.

PROMIS’s mission is to actively support immigrants in their integration into Montreal and the rest of Quebec. Contact us to learn more about Residence Maria-Goretti or to get help with your search for accommodation!