Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing

The Newcomer’s Guide to Canadian Housing gives newcomers a great overview of renting or buying a house in Canada. To download, click here

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. It is important to know that there is no Canada-wide law about housing. Every province has its own laws about renting and buying. However, this Guide provides a useful starting point for issues you need to be aware of when renting or buying.

The Guide starts with ‘Housing in Canada’- information about housing in Canada. It tells you what you will find when you start looking for a place to live - and what you should look for.

‘Housing in Canada’ is followed by ‘Renting’, where you will find the information you need about renting an apartment or a house.

The final section is about buying a house. This section explains mortgages and takes you through the steps in buying a house. The Guide explains leases and mortgages in detail.

Contents include:

Housing in Canada
Types of Housing
Housing Customs
Types of Ownership
Renting
Who's Who in Renting
Finding a Place to Rent
Landlord-Tenant Relations
Buying a House

Author: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Date Published: revised 2007

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