Housing
Before renting an apartment or buying a home, several factors should be considered.
Apartment
Apartments range in size from 1 to 8½ rooms. Student rooms are also available near schools. The surface area is rarely indicated for apartments. The designations
2 ½, 3 ½, 4 ½, etc. are used to indicate the number of rooms. The kitchen is counted as a room and the bathroom counts as half a room. Consequently, you would have one closed bedroom starting with a 3 ½ (living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom).
Some apartments are semi-furnished, i.e., equipped with basic appliances (stove and fridge).The designation electricity and heating included means that the cost for heating and electricity are included in the rent.
Room equivalents:
- 1 ½ rooms: studio with an eating area
- 2 ½ rooms: living room and one bedroom
- 3 ½ rooms: living room, kitchen and one bedroom
- 4 ½ rooms: living room, kitchen and two bedrooms
Lease
Once an apartment has been selected, a lease must be signed. This is a contract that stipulates:
- the landlord’s and tenant’s respective responsibilities and commitments
- the duration of the rental period
- the amount of the rent
- the services and accessories included in the rent price: heating, hot water, etc.
It is important to ensure that all the conditions discussed with the landlord are contained in the lease, especially any repairs the landlord has promised to make and the date they will be carried out.
The Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms also stipulates that it is forbidden to refuse access to a dwelling for discriminatory reasons.
How to find an apartment
To find an apartment, consult the classified ads in various dailies across Québec. On the Web, ad sites such as Kijiji, LesPAC and LogisQuébec can be very good search tools.
For more information on renting, visit the Régie du logement website.
Homes
A variety of properties are available to prospective homeowners, based on each family’s specific needs and budget:
- modern single-family homes
- magnificent older homes
- lovely country homes with a garden and more space
- etc.
Choosing a property
Before buying a house, it is important to assess your needs. Are you looking for:
- a home for 2, 5 or 15 years?
- a single-family home, a semidetached house, a condo?
- a place in the city or the country?
The house’s location is a factor that affects the property’s price. House prices in the city within proximity to services (public transportation, recreational activities, schools, hospitals, etc.) are higher compared to homes in the suburbs or in rural areas. Traffic, transportation costs and taxes are also factors to consider.
New homes are subject to taxes on the sales price at the time of purchase. However, a wider choice of used houses, with well-established services is available on the market. These houses are not subject to sales taxes.
