Housing
Guide
Niagara College – Toronto
Dear Student,
Welcome to Niagara College – Toronto (NCT)! Our campus
of nearly 7000 students from around the world is a
thriving academic community in the heart of of Toronto.
Details for your budget, costs of living in Toronto,
transportation, and more are included in this helpful
guide. Please see the Table of Contents for reference.
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Rights and Responsibilities . . . . . . 8
Budgeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Niagara College – Toronto
Introduction
The Housing Support team at Niagara College – Toronto strives
to build a network of successful and reliable housing options
for all students. Review this guide and all of the advice it
contains to ensure a positive living experience in Toronto.
Niagara College – Toronto is easily accessible by the city’s transit system and
allows for a variety of housing locations to suit your needs. Once you know
where in the city you would like to be located and how you will get to school, you
can investigate housing alternatives, costs, and resources for the best housing
options. And finally, it’s important to be aware of your rights as a tenant, and you
can review those rights in the final section of this guide.
Students are encouraged to arrange their housing accommodations prior to
arriving to Canada. If you have any questions about housing while attending
NCT or would like more information, please reach out to us at housing@
niagaracollegetoronto.ca
Housing Guide
3
Housing
Budgeting
Cost of living in Toronto
Average Local Apartment Rentals**:
This section contains data on Toronto’s cost of living, rental rates in Toronto, and
a warning against scams to assist you in developing a budget. The below chart
provides an approximate and rough breakdown based on the research of the
Student Services Department and is meant to be used only as a guide.
City
0B
1B
2B
3B
Toronto
$1,948
$2,476
$3,224
$3,729
Etobicoke
$2,024
$2,201
$2,828
$2,814
Approximate monthly cost (One person)
Mississauga
$1,781
$2,193
$2,605
$2,997
Housing
$1,137
Brampton
$1,473
$1,968
$2,488
$2,730
Phone
$
57
Scarborough
$1,852
$2,037
$2,454
$2,895
Internet
$
80
Transportation (TTC)
$ 128
Groceries/Household items
$ 300
Total
$1,702
Some advice on scams
** The above rental prices were gathered in 2023. Toronto’s rental market is
known to fluctuate, so it is always a good idea to check the latest rental report
on rentals.ca
Source: Consumer price index portal (statcan.gc.ca)
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Niagara College – Toronto
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If a listing or offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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If you are doing a virtual tour, ensure that the tour is either live or that the video
was taken recently.
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Always walk through the unit or request a virtual tour before making a payment
or transferring any money to the advertiser.
Check necessary documents before sending money or your personal information.
Source: Wellbeing Toronto – City of Toronto
Housing Guide
5
Resources
Searching for housing:
Now that your housing priorities and your budget have been
established, you should begin your housing search. In this
section, you can learn more about NCT’s housing partner and
steps to finding housing.
Other local housing resources:
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Avant
Tartu College
Parkside Residence
CampusOne
Residence
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4Rent
Gottarent
Zumper
liv.rent
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Steps to find housing:
Step 1. Request a Viewing:
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RentSeeker
TorontoRentals
Viewit
Step 3. Secure Your Unit:
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Sign a Standard Lease.
Ensure that you have a copy of the lease.
Pay the first and last month’s rent and sometimes a key.
A Word about Leases
Use a formal email address.
Ask any questions you have about the unit or location.
Make a good first impression.
Step 2. Apply for a Unit:
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Zolo
Complete a rental application.
Provide the landlord with a list of good references.
Give your landlord consent to complete a credit check.
Niagara College – Toronto
A lease is a contract between you and the landlord. Lease Information should
include:
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The move-in date.
The security deposit.
The date that rent is to be paid.
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The amount of rent.
The landlord’s contact information.
What services are included.
The list provided is for the convenience of Niagara College – Toronto
students and Niagara College – Toronto does not recommend or endorse
any of the premises listed.
Housing Guide
7
Rights and
Responsibilities
Your decision to stay in residence makes you a part of a
community. Being a part of that community comes with
responsibilities.
As students you are expected to:
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Pay your rent on time.
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Respect your neighbour’s right to peace and enjoyment of their property.
Keep your rental unit clean.
Avoid causing any damage and pay for the repairs of any damage you cause.
Keep noise to a minimum - parties and music can disturb your neighbours.
Contact your landlord as soon as you can when there is a serious problem in
the unit needing repair or service.
Allow your landlord entry to your space for repairs (with notice).
Dealing with your landlord:
Landlords have several obligations related to owning and
providing rental housing. You enter into a legal agreement
when you sign a lease to rent a room or apartment.
Consequently, your landlord is required to:
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Maintain your home in a good state of repair.
Provide the utility services (heat, electricity, other) agreed to in the lease.
Not seize your property without following a proper legal process.
Niagara College – Toronto
If you have trouble with your landlord, the housing office at the college may offer
free or low-cost legal advice. We can also offer you advice about where to seek
legal help. Each province and territory have laws that govern landlord-tenant
relations. As an international student, you are protected by those laws.
Knowing your rights further:
The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is a provincial housing law that sets out the
relationship between a tenant and the landlord. As a tenant that falls under the RTA,
you need to understand your rights. If you have any questions about your tenancy
and the RTA, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or your local legal clinic, both of
which can help to provide direction and guidance.
Housing Guide
9
Moving out:
When moving out of your unit, be sure to provide your landlord with written notice
of the date that you will vacate your unit. If you want to move out of your unit
before your lease is over, you will have to break your lease. Start by talking with
your landlord to come to an agreement. If this is not possible, you will need to
consider subletting your unit or an assignment. It is important to understand what
responsibilities are required of you under both circumstances. Always check with
your landlord to find out if they allow subletting or assignment. For more information
about getting out of rental agreements, click here.
Being a good neighbour
As a tenant, it is also a good idea to develop a friendly relationship with your
neighbours. Follow these tips:
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Say hello and introduce yourself to people you see frequently.
Keep your apartment clean and organized to avoid bad smells and pets.
Know your trash days and always take out the garbage on time.
If you own a pet, always clean up after them inside and outside your apartment.
If you have a party, remember that the city of Toronto does not permit noise on
weekends after 11 p.m. Check with your landlord to ensure that you won’t cause
any problems.
Other resources:
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Niagara College – Toronto
Moving to Toronto
City of Toronto
Toronto Festivals & Events Calendar
Landlord & Tenant Board
International students settling in Ontario
Problems with Landlords/Rentals
Cycling in Toronto
Getting a drivers license
Fire prevention and safety training module
Housing Guide
11
Transportation
Access to public transit should be one of your top priorities
while looking for a home. Travel times and using the Greater
Toronto Area’s (GTA) public transportation system, PRESTO
Cards, and Go Transit are all covered in this section.
PRESTO Cards:
A PRESTO card lets you travel
across 11 different transit agencies
in Ontario. To get the student
discount for your PRESTO card you
will have to get a post-secondary
photo identification card first.
The GTA’s Public Transit Systems:
Some of the transits that accept PRESTO Cards are:
The Toronto Transit Commission
(TTC) serves the people of Toronto
by ensuring your transit system is
reliable, safe, and clean. To use the
TTC, you will have to purchase a pass,
a ticket, or a PRESTO card with the
Post Secondary Student Monthly pass.
For more information on TTC monthly pass and Go Transit discount, please
follow the steps described in the following QR codes
TTC Monthly pass
Brampton Transit
Burlington Transit
Durham Region Transit
(DRT)
GO Transit
Mississauga Transit
(MiWay)
Oakville Transit
Go Transit discount
UP Express
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Niagara College – Toronto
York Region Transit
(YRT)
Housing Guide
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Get in touch
22 College Street. Suite 300,
Toronto, M5G 1K2 ON, Canada
+1 647-799-4830
housing@niagaracollegetoronto.ca
Connect with Niagara College - Toronto
@niagaracollegetoronto
@niagaratoronto