Finding a great rental property isn’t easy – these days, nice places get snapped up fast, sometimes for more than the listed lease price (yep, bidding wars are now officially a thing for rentals again). According to broker Julian Kashani, here’s what it takes to land a great rental.
1. Do your research. Start by looking at both current and recently rented listings on condos.ca and property.ca to determine what you can reasonably afford, what kind of property you want, what area you’re looking in, and how far you’re willing to commute to work. (Every listing has that information, just scroll down past the pictures to find it.)
2. Know your move-in date. Go in knowing exactly when you’ll be able to move – it definitely helps if you can be flexible.
3. Have your documentation ready to go. Have your credit report, employment letter, references and rental application at the ready. That way, if you see a unit you like, you can make an offer on it right away.
Read more: Ready, set…rent – the condos.ca rental process
4. Be ready to make decisions fast. These days, the early bird definitely gets the cute condo. If you wait a couple of days to get all your paperwork together (or to mull over if this is the right place for you) that unit will likely be gone, and it may be tough to find something similar.
5. Work with a REALTOR® who’s an area or building specialist. As a renter, you don’t pay a penny to use an agent’s help – but you get ALL the benefits of their expertise and connections. An agent will do the legwork for you, present you professionally to landlords, and put clauses in place to protect your interests. (Finding an agent is easy – just sign up on the site and contact the agent that appears on your listings.)
Looking for a rental in the GTA? Check out current listings here: