Accommodation in Canada for Students / SCAM for Accommodation

Your dream of flying to Canada to study higher education is left incomplete till you reach your destination and settle in an accommodation. The latter is one of the most important aspects of studying abroad; factors of living abroad like budget, expenses, and commute, all depend on your accommodation. But what do we know about accommodation in Canada for students? We find out in this blog. Additionally, we also touch on the topic of SCAM concerning Accommodation in Canada. Let’s delve into this topic right on. 

Accommodation in Canada for Students

There are various types of accommodation in Canada, the majority of which can be distinguished into off-campus accommodation and on-campus accommodation.

On-campus accommodation in Canada

Let’s see what comes under on-campus accommodation.

Dormitories

One of the most preferred accommodations of international students, Dormitories are a place of residence provided by the university itself, on-campus or near the campus. This type of accommodation is managed by the university and provides basic amenities like electricity, water, etc, included in the accommodation costs. 

Off-campus accommodation in Canada

For on-campus accommodation, there are shared apartments, private accommodations on rent, and Homestays. Let’s expand a bit on the aforementioned, separately. 

Shared Apartments 

A shared apartment is exactly how it sounds. You get a single room but the other rooms in the apartment are occupied by other students so the common spaces like the kitchen, living room, etc, are all shared. You get flatmates and even roommates at times. 

Single Apartment On Rent

In this case, the entire apartment is rented by you alone and you don’t share any utility or room with anyone. But that simply means that you owe the entirety of the cost to the landlord from your own pockets. The burden of living alone, in this case, gets higher. 

Homestays 

Many homes open their doors to international students to enter and live in their place of residence for some time. You get the feel of a home and all the necessities. One con of living in this space is that it’s not relatively closer to the campus, so it takes time to commute and causally travel.

Cost of Accommodation in Canada for Students 

Please check the table below to get an idea about the cost of accommodation in Canada for Students. 

Type of Accommodation	Cost in CAD	Cost in INR
On-Campus Accommodation	$6000-$16000	INR 4.96 Lakh – INR 13.23 Lakh
Shared Apartment	$400-$800	INR 33,093 – INR 66,186
Apartment Rentals	$300-$500	INR 24,819- INR 41,366
Dormitories	$350-$600	INR 28,956- INR 49,639
Homestay	$600-$1000	INR 49,639- INR 82,733

SCAM for Accommodation in Canada

With the prevalence of accommodation in Canada for students, the onset of SCAMs is an unfortunate but natural occurrence. To know more about SCAM, first, we need to know what exactly we mean by SCAM for Accommodation. 

SCAM for Accommodation is fake rental ads or fake sources that come off as real landlords or legit deals. It starts from there but continues to the fraudulent individuals enquiring about the students and their backgrounds. International students, unknown of a foreign environment, fall into their trap and share their personal information. The frauds come up with excuses when asked to show the rental properties or houses, but pressure the students to pay money for deposits, and other necessary processes. A type of harassment, many students end up paying the scammers and end up becoming a victim of said scams. 

Now, to prevent coming into traps such as this, it’s important to identify the signs of a SCAM for accommodation. 

Must Read: Student Accommodation in Canada

Signs of SCAM for Accommodation in Canada

Make note of the following red flags as signs of a SCAM for Accommodation in Canada:

Price

If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Investigate thoroughly who the owners of the place are, and what are the policies, and then make sure to see the house in person. Do your research and ask anyone you know to be sure, and to confirm the credibility of the deal. 

Excuses

If you hear incessant excuses from the dealers that the owners are out of town and are unavailable to show you the room/property, make your inquiries. Regard it as a clear red flag. 

Vague Listing 

If the place you saw on the listing is vague and doesn’t seem credible, take a step back. Think twice before you move forward. If you choose to and the photos on the listing are as unclear or vague, this becomes the second consecutive sign that it could be a scam. No property dealer or landlord wants you to see unfashionable pictures of their property. So be alert and be aware. 

No Rental Agreement 

The second you notice that the dealer or the landlord is hesitant to share a rent agreement, but is asking for an advance payment as a deposit regardless, perceive the deal as a major deal-breaker and a red flag. DO NOT SHARE money with anyone without any formal agreement.

Unknown Links 

If the dealers want to contact you virtually and share an unknown link with you, DO NOT click on them. They are most probably unsafe. Do not click on any links that are a gateway to you making payments without your consent. 

Ways to Prevent SCAMS for Accommodation in Canada

Now that we discussed the ways to identify a SCAM for Accommodation, it’s time to prevent them. Below are some steps to prevent SCAMs for Accommodation:

Double-Check the Address

Make sure the address isn’t being used as a copy and paste from another authentic place. If the accommodation seems like a duplicate post, it’s probably not reliable. 

Research

Insist on meeting the landlord and making enquiries about the property on-site in person. If you think the property does justice to the ad, then well and good, if not, then be aware. Also, make sure to not view the listing alone. Take a friend or a family member with you.

Know Your Rights 

There’s information on the rental processes provided by the Government of Canada. Further, you can also contact Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501), or your nearest police station for any help with the fraudulent case. 

Demand Documents 

Always demand proof of identity from the landlord, along with lease documents, when you’re in talks about making a deal with them. It’s important to identify everything before you start making up your mind. 

Ways to Find Accommodation in Canada

Now that the air is cleared on finding accommodation in Canada, what are some of the ways that students can opt while finding a house in Canada? Let’s find out! 

Consider Location and Commute 

While starting your search to find a house in Canada, it’s important to eliminate your options by filtering the choices you are going to make based on the location you prefer, and the time and cost it takes to commute from that particular location. So consider location and commute and figure out your options.

Research Online Sites 

Some sites such as Padmapper, Rentals.ca, Craigslist, and many other smaller rental sites, are available and are at your service for you to choose from and find houses in Canada. 

Search Home Stays 

If you want to go for a homestay, for the time being, you can go for networks such as Camada Homestay Network, YES Canada Homestay, etc. 

Facebook Groups/Marketplace 

Online groups and marketplaces like Facebook are another media to find the house of your choice in Canada. So utilize this resource. 

Must Read: How to Find Accommodation in Canada?

Things to Keep in Mind 

While you do your search for accommodation in Canada, here are just the remaining things to keep in mind. 

1. Ask the authorities of your university or your agent to help you get in contact with a reliable source. 
2. Some universities might already have their guidelines and policies on housing. They might even refer you to authentic residences. So make sure you are aware of the same and do make contact with your university regarding accommodation.
3. Last but not least, keep in mind that the place of residence should be in a safe and secure area. It’s one of the most important factors to be considered when a student needs to find accommodation. 

FAQs

This was all about student accommodation in Canada. Make sure you select the lodging carefully. Get in touch with the professionals at Leverage Edu to discover more about the complete process of studying abroad.