How To Find The Best Accommodation for International Students In Canada In 2024

Moving to a new country for education is an exciting yet challenging journey, and finding the perfect accommodation for international students in Canada is a crucial aspect of ensuring a smooth transition. As an international student in Canada in 2023, your home away from home plays a significant role in shaping your overall experience. Navigating the sea of housing options can seem overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can secure a comfortable and suitable place to stay. In this blog, we'll delve into unique insights and practical advice that will help you find the best and affordable accommodation in Canada for international students options that perfectly match with your preferences, budget, and academic needs.

Finding Accommodation for International Students in Canada 

Studying in a new place can be a thrilling and transforming experience for many students. However, international students face issues like finding suitable accommodation for international students in Canada. The cost of living in Canada is skyrocketing, and competition for the affordable accommodation for international students in Canada of your dreams can be intense, creating issues with student accommodation. Having a basic knowledge of the accommodation for international students in Canada and the Canadian market is quite important, and students sometimes skip this step and tend to struggle to communicate with landlords and property managers. So to help you with your student accommodations problems, we have carefully crafted this blog on the  challenges of finding accommodation for international students in Canada. Check out this blog about dorm room essentials for a hassle free shifting to your new home.

On-campus Student Accommodation in Canada 

On-campus student housing emerges as a valuable choice, fostering a sense of community and offering an array of benefits that contribute to a well-rounded university life. It provides a home where you may succeed intellectually, socially, and emotionally, making the most of your educational adventure. Choosing on-campus student accommodation in Canada offers numerous advantages:

1. Community & Support: On-campus housing provides a close-knit community, allowing you to form lasting friendships, share experiences, and receive academic support.
2. Convenience: Living on campus means you're only a short walk from courses, libraries, and other academic resources, which saves your time.
3. Safety & Security: Universities prioritize the safety of their students, ensuring a secure environment through measures like campus security and surveillance.
4. Cultural Exchanges: Participate in cultural exchanges with students from all around the world to extend your horizons and enrich your global viewpoint.
5. Facilities: On-campus residences often include amenities such as gyms, common rooms, and study areas, enhancing your overall student experience.
6. Structured Learning: The proximity to campus allows you to fully immerse yourself in campus activities, workshops, and events, promoting holistic growth.
7. Ease of Transition: Especially for international students, on-campus housing simplifies the transition to a new country by providing a familiar and supportive environment.

Off-campus Student Accommodation in Canada

Beyond the bustling campus life, the world of off-campus student accommodation beckons – a realm of independence, culture, and experiences waiting to be embraced. It's more than a mere dwelling; it's your sanctuary in the heart of Canada's diversity. When it comes to finding reliable and trusted off-campus accommodations, amber stands as a beacon of excellence. Amber is an established platform that simplifies the process of booking off-campus housing, offering a wide array of verified options to suit your needs. With a commitment to transparency, security, and hassle-free experiences, Amber ensures your transition to off-campus living is smooth and enriching.

Benefits of Off-Campus Living:

1. Independence: Off-campus accommodation offers the freedom to create your space and routines, fostering a sense of responsibility and autonomy.
2. Cultural Immersion: Engage with local communities, cuisine, and traditions, enriching your understanding of Canada's multicultural fabric.
3. Budget Flexibility: Choose from a range of housing options to align with your budget and preferences, mastering the art of financial planning.
4. Life Skills: Grocery shopping, cooking, and managing utilities contribute to honing essential life skills, preparing you for the real world.
5. Privacy: Enjoy the luxury of a space that's truly your own, providing a haven for focused study and relaxation.

Problems With Student Accommodation In Canada

Finding the perfect home

Every student has different needs, some need on-campus housing, and some need off-campus housing. Students must be in their comfort zones because they are away from home and must feel at ease. It is also important to remember that student housing should be close to their university and other city facilities, such as transportation and connection. This is why finding the perfect international student accommodation in Canada is extremely important. 

Finances

Being an international student can be tough as one does not have a free flow of money and needs to manage their finances like a professional, as it is expensive to live abroad. The two biggest sectors where students spend their money are their tuition fees and international student accommodation in Canada. Canada is one of the student-friendly country, with cities such as Montreal, Vancouver, and Ontario being popular study destinations for students. Basic international students accommodation in Canada can go up to $2200 every month. At the same time, Canada is one of the cold countries, and students also need to pay for heating and bills, medical bills, health insurance, groceries and basic outings. You can also use some of the tips to manage your finances as an international student.

Lack of Planning and Research 

As you are finding international students accommodation in Canada, doing planning and research is one of the most important things. Before you move abroad to study, you should find the cheapest accommodation in Canada for international students and ensure it is booked so you don't have to waste time finding one when you shift. There aren't many options on campus as they get booked immediately, and university personnel may not always know about off-campus student housing. It is important that you research well about your accommodation cost in Canada for international students and read more about the city and find useful and important things. When you finally move into your international students accommodation in Canada, you will already know about the city and the things around your student accommodation.

Ignorant of services included

Sometimes students don't know about the services included in their accommodation and tend to pay extra for them as some student accommodations have electricity, water and wifi bills included in their rent. Students should always read about these services and the terms and conditions of their student accommodation.

Lack of Extended support

When one lives in a foreign country, one can be presented with many obstacles, such as racial prejudice, language barriers, lodging issues, financial strains, and loneliness. In such cases, students require locations. or certain individuals on and off campus to help them if they feel alienated or lonely, Where they can talk and let their feelings out and possibly even get a solution to it. Keeping in touch with your friends and family is always advisable.

Safety and Security

As parents send their children to study abroad, they are highly concerned about their safety and security. When people usually move to new places, they face a certain insecurity and can be scared and have a hard time initially. People get affected by climate change, food, people, and different cultures, followed by the locals and spoken language.

Choosing from a diverse range of rental options

Students usually burn out and get overwhelmed by the diverse range of rental options available while finding international students accommodation in Canada. Some properties give a ton of amenities while having a high price, whereas some have low prices but no amenities. A student tends to get exhausted if they don't get assistance while finding cheapest accommodation in Canada for international students options.

Vulnerability to rental scams

When finding international students accommodation in Canada, one is always vulnerable to rental scams, and one needs to find legitimate sites where one can book student accommodation. Never be fooled and get scammed by such sites and offers. You can go through these eight ways how to spot a rental scam and how to stop and avoid student loan scams to avoid them. 

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Red Flags To Look Out For

Unrealistic prices

Unreasonably cheap cost in a pricey area! If you find something like this, you're witnessing a possible fraud. This is one of the key red flags and the problems with accommodation for international students in Canada. So to grasp the rental rates in your target area, you must conduct in-depth market research.

Cash transactions

Avoid paying with cash because your fund will lose its traceability making this a major problem with student accommodations. The agent or landlord might provide you with agreement bonds and cash receipts that appear to be authentic, Watch out; they can also be forged.

No photos or videos, or visual tour

This is one of the main issues of accommodation for international students in Canada face while looking for accommodation for international students in Canada. Always ask for a video or virtual tour. Never buy the property if the landlord or realtor is unwilling to share it with you and gives you a list of excuses.

No background information

Always ask for the landlord's information and make sure to verify it, as not having legitimate background information is one of the major red flags.

Verbal agreements

Documentation is important. Never accept verbal agreements as valid. Ask for all the discussed specifics, such as the rent amount, the length of the lease, the security deposit, etc.

Finding accommodation for international students in Canada can be tiring when challenges like language to high accommodation cost in Canada for international students are the issue. However, with proper planning, research and assistance from university housing services, international students can overcome these challenges and have comfortable and cheapest accommodation in Canada for international students that meets their needs and budget. It all comes down to things to look for when choosing student housing: searching for accommodation for international students in Canada requires patience, persistence and a willingness to adapt to a new environment. 

It’s always handy to keep the ultimate guide for international student housing when planning on moving to Canada.