Housing in Atlantic Canada. Renting your home

Source:www.capsure.com

Renting your first home in Canada: Let´s start with the words we will use:

Landlord is the person who owns the house you want to live in. Sometimes, if she/he is the owner of some houses or buildings, he hires a "property manager" to collect the rent, manage the building, keep your building in good condition  and answer all your petitions.

Tenant: That is you. The person who will rent the house. 

Whenever anything needs to be serviced or repaired you should contact the landlord

Depending on the province you are living in, your responsabilities  are different. You can check yours in this website: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/reho/yogureho/fore/index.cfm.

Finding a place to rent:

Location and cost are often important things to evaluate when you are looking for a place to live. Neighbourhoods close to schools, public transit, hospital and other services might be more expensive, but they can also save you time and money everyday when you go to work or school.

You should visit the place you are interested in, at different times of the day and during the week and in a weekend. Sometimes, you can get suprised of how a neihgbourhood changes!

Look at a different houses or apartments before you decide. That way, you can compare the rent you will pay and make sure the place is right for you. 

Source:www.realtor.com

Questions you can ask your landlord when viewing a rental unit or a house: 

• Which utilities (as electricity, heat, water, cable) and appliances (as fridge, stove, washing machine/dryer) are included in the rent? If they are not, How much do they cost each month?
• Does the apartment come with furniture?
• Can I make any change to the home, such as painting?
• Can I have pets?
• If you are a smoker, can I smoke in the house?
• Is parking available? Is it included in the rent ?  Does it cost extra?
• Is there any place for storage? Is it included? How secure is it?
• What are the other tenants like? Families, students, old people?
• What happens if I am not able to pay you the first day of the month?
• Which are the rules for garbage, recycling, ...in the building?

Questions your landlord can make to you:

• He can ask you to provide contact information for references (a past landlord or your employer) who can confirm that you will be a good tenant.
• He can also ask you where you work and what your income is

Source:www.rentalhousingbusiness.ca

If you get an agreement with your landlord, both of you should sign a lease.  A lease is a legal document, a written rental agreement that outlines all the terms you have agreed to. Make sure you read and understand every word, 

The landlord will ask you for a rental deposit when you sign the lease. The deposit is usually equal to the cost of one month´s rent. He can use it in case you don´t pay the rent or to cover any damage you cause to the apartment. When you move out, he will give the deposit back or it can be used to pay your last month of rent. 

Paying the rent:

You will have to pay the rent to your landlord the first day of every month, You can choose between these ways: 

• Cash
• Post-dated cheques. Cheques with a future date already written on them. For example, with the first day of each month for the next twelve months.  He can cashed them before the date written on them and you can cancel cheques that have not been cashed by calling your bank. 
• Certified cheques. Cheques that have been guaranteed by your bank. 
• Transfer

If you want to get more information you can check with Rental authorities in New Brunswick: New Brunswick Office of the Rentalsman: www. snb.ca/irent

Telephone: 1-506-453-2557

We will talk about buying a house here in next posts.
Enjoy!