Finding a place to live: your responsibility 

Each person who joins INRS is responsible for taking their own steps to find housing.

Logement étudiant

In this page, you will find concrete information to support you in your search for housing in Quebec. 

Main topics:

Information you need to know before looking for accommodation

Finding accommodation before arring in Quebec

Accommodation search sites

Pitfalls to avoid – Know your rights as a tenant

Since there is currently a housing shortage in Quebec and prices are also on the rise, we invite you to start your process as soon as possible.   

Can’t find a place to live and your situation is becoming critical?  If you are unable to find housing after making several attempts to search on your own using the tools and sites mentioned in this document, we invite you to contact the INRS social worker at intervention.sesre@inrs.ca.

Before arriving in Quebec: finding accommodation

It is important to consult the information in the following sections to understand your needs and to understand the terminology and the housing market in Quebec. 

Information you need to know before looking for accommodation

Given the housing shortage in Quebec, it is recommended that you start your process as soon as possible, before coming to Quebec, so that you have a place to live as soon as you arrive. If this is not possible, plan a temporary place to live for a few weeks while you do your research and visit once you are there. 

Ideal time to look for accommodation

In Quebec, many people move on July 1. Thus, from the previous February, many homes began to appear for this period. However, you can find accommodation at any time of the year. 

Types of housing and their characteristics

Student residences 

By opting to rent a room in a student residence, you avoid the worries related to the purchase of furniture, appliances, and the request for heating and electrical services. You save time, money and energy so you can focus on your studies and activities. 


Room 

It is possible to rent a room located in a house or apartment. The room is usually furnished. The bathroom and kitchen are usually shared with the other occupants. 


Apartment 

You can rent or sublet a complete apartment. The apartments can be furnished or unfurnished. It is important to check whether heating, hot water, electricity and internet are included in the rent price. If not, you will have to add this fee to the cost of rent. 


Divided condominium or condo 

Condos are “apartments” that have been purchased by separate owners. For example, in a building where there are several condos, there are several co-owners and not a single sole owner of the building (as is the case for apartments). 

Generally inhabited by the owners, some condos are available for rent. In this case, in addition to respecting the agreement of your lease with the condo owner, you will also have to respect the co-ownership regulations. Remember to ask for a copy of these rules during your visit. 


Division of apartments (number of rooms)

An apartment always includes a private bathroom and a kitchen (all rooms count as one room (1) and the bathroom as 1/2).    

  • 1 1/2: 1 open concept room (including the kitchen) and a closed bathroom. 
  • 2 1/2: 2 rooms open or not and a closed bathroom. 
  • 3 1/2: 3 rooms (1 bedroom, 1 kitchen, 1 living room) and a closed bathroom. 
  • 4 1/2: 4 rooms (2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 living room) and a closed bathroom. 
  • 5 1/2: 5 rooms (3 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 living room) and a closed bathroom. 
  • Etc. 

 

Note that the size of the apartments is rarely published, it is rather the number of rooms that determines its divisions. 

Types of rentals

Location 

The landlord is looking for a tenant. The landlord and tenant are required to sign a lease, which acts as a contract. As a tenant, you will have rights, but also responsibilities.

Apartment share  

Flatsharing is the sharing of an apartment with several people. You will be a roommate if you sign the lease with other people. Flatsharing is an option often used by students. since it allows you to divide costs and tasks. 


Sublease 

The current tenant is looking for someone who can temporarily occupy their apartment during their absence. If you sublet an apartment, you will pay rent to the tenant and you will make an agreement with that person. The subtenant has the same rights as a tenant. It should be noted that the landlord must first have agreed to the sublease. This option may be interesting if you are in Quebec for a short stay.
 

Assignment of lease (lease to be assigned or transfer of lease) 

A lease is “assignable” when a tenant wishes to transfer his or her current lease permanently to another person. By agreeing to take over a lease assignment, you then become a tenant, with all the rights and responsibilities associated with it. 

Find accommodation

Steps to follow to find accommodation

Read the information in the sections of these pages.

Confirm with the person who will supervise you at INRS where your main place of study will be located. This will help you determine which city and neighborhood is best to settle in.

Establish your budget (keeping in mind that the cost of living is on the rise in Quebec as well as housing prices and that you may have unforeseen events).

Determine the type of housing you prefer.

 Find out about the pitfalls to avoid and your rights.

Search for accommodation on appropriate websites, social media, and within your personal contacts.

Using Google Maps or a similar tool, check whether the travel time between INRS and your accommodation is acceptable to you.

Schedule an apartment visit.  

Sign the rental agreement (lease).

 Get home insurance

Furnish your home (if necessary).

The visits

The most important thing during your visits is to check certain elements in order to choose the apartment that suits you best.   

  • What services are included in the rent price? (heating, electricity, hot water, internet…) 
  • What type of heating is used (electricity, natural gas, oil)? Some energy sources cost more than others. 
  • Is the accommodation served by public transport? 
  • Is there parking? How much does it cost? Where can other vehicles be parked? 
  • Are there any additional fees such as for parking or laundry? 
  • What is the reason for the departure of the current tenants? 
  • If pets are allowed, which ones? Is smoking allowed? 

Demonstrate that you can pay and give referrals

Landlords normally require guarantees that you will be able to pay for your unit and they also want to make sure that you are a respectful tenant. A credit check is therefore usually required during the selection process. Read the information that the landlord may require from you in the Know your rights as a tenant section.  

If you’ve never lived in Canada, your credit report in Canada will be blank, so you need to find other ways to guarantee the landlord that you’ll be able to pay for your home. 

  • Do not hesitate to send them the letter of financial support from INRS. As a foreign national, this helps to demonstrate that you have the ability to pay.  
  • If you have family or close friends in Quebec, you may want to ask them to co-sign the lease with you. It is, however, an important commitment on their part. By doing so, the co-signer becomes responsible for the rent, just like you. 
  • Consider reaching out to your country’s diaspora. These people already in Canada may be supportive and ready to support you. 

Credit check

Information to be provided during the credit check 

Landlords require a variety of information before they decide to rent you an apartment. This allows them to know who they are dealing with, in particular to try to answer the following two questions:  

  • Will you be able to pay your rent? 
  • Will your behaviour as a tenant be respectful and appropriate?

It is important to know that your Social Insurance Number is not required for landlords to conduct this investigation. This Quebec government webpage answers the main questions related to the credit check and the information you must or must not provide.  

Price of accommodation

The cost of housing varies from region to region and also by neighbourhood.

Average price of accommodation around research centres

To get an idea of the budget to consider for your home, we invite you to consult the statistics of average rent costs for each sector.

Average price of accommodation around research centres statistics

  • For the North Shore of Montreal (AFSB Centre and EMT-Bonaventure (as of fall 2026)):
    average rent costs.   

Elements influencing the price of rent 

Heating and electricity 

Some units are offered heated and/or lit. Before renting a home, ask the landlord about the annual costs of heating and electricity. 

If a dwelling is said: 

  • When heated, the owner pays for the heating and manages the contract with the service provider. 
  • The owner pays for the electricity, but not the heating, and manages the contract with the service provider 


Furniture & Appliances 

Some accommodations are offered fully furnished, which is very convenient when arriving from abroad. Others offer appliances (stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer). 

Storage space 

Many apartment buildings offer storage space, which can be handy for a bike or other bulky items. 


Parking 

Some buildings provide parking, but you can usually ask to remove it before the lease is signed if you don’t need it. 

Choosing your city and district 

Find the neighborhoods where to live near your research centre or public transit.

Neighborhoods near your research centre

Housing located near public transit  

Here are some neighborhoods where it is good to live near your research centre*.  Please check with your supervisor to find out which city you should move to, as INRS has campuses and research units in several cities.

Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research centre and Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research centre – Bonaventure (City of Laval):

  • Laval-des-Rapides
    • Neighbourhood where the Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research centre and Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Reasearch centre* (from fall 2026) are located
  • Pont-Viau
  • Chomedey
  • Ahuntsic-Bordeaux-Cartierville (Montréal)
  • Ville-St-Laurent (Montréal)

Eau Terre Environnement Research centre

Urbanisation Culture Société Research centre – Québec Campus

(Quebec City):

  • Saint-Roch
    • Neighbourhood where the Research centre are located
  • Saint-Jean-Baptiste
  • Saint-Sauveur
  • Montcalm
  • Limoilou
  • Vieux-Québec / Petit Champlain

Urbanisation Culture Société Research centre (City of Montreal):

  • Plateau-Mont-Royal
    • Neighbourhood where the Research centre are located
  • Mile-End
  • Villeray
  • Rosemont–Petite-Patrie

Énergie matériaux Télécommunications Research centre (City of Varennes):

  • Varennes
    • Neighbourhood where the Research centre are located
  • Longueuil
  • Boucherville
  • Sainte-Julie
  • Et plusieurs autres (dont Montréal) selon votre moyen de transport

Énergie matériaux Télécommunications Research centre – Place Bonaventure* (Ville de Montréal): 

  • Ville-Marie
    • Neighbourhood where the Research centre are located
  • Westmount
  • Griffintown
  • Saint-Henri
  • Pointe-St-Charles

*IMPORTANT : Ask the person who will supervise you at INRS to find out where the courses and activities in the laboratories will be held before finding accommodation because the EMT centre at Place Bonaventure will be moving to Laval towards the end of 2026. 

In addition to the price, it is important to choose accommodation from which it is easy to get around. Look for accommodations located near public transit that will take you directly or easily to your Research Centre. 

Public transit network in cities :

After you have found your accommodation

Information utile à savoir après avoir trouver un logement.  

Water service

Water service is free in Quebec. So you don’t need to buy water, pay as you go, or contact a supplier. 

Electricity and heating

If the apartment is not heated or lit, and the heating is electrical, you will have to contact the Hydro-Québec supplier  to subscribe. It is the only electricity supplier in Quebec.  

The majority of apartments are heated by electricity (via electrical complaints) however, some apartments or kitchen appliances (stoves) are heated by natural gas. In this case, you will also need to contact the gas supplier Énergir.   

Home insurance

Once you’ve found your home, it’s essential that you take out home insurance! This insurance is a necessity for the safety of your property and the inhabitants of the house. This will protect you in the event of a burglary, arson or accident, losses resulting from sewer backups or major breaks, etc. 

Make sure that your home insurance contains the following two components: 

  • Civil liability: covers any damage you may cause to the building in which you live and the damage you may cause to residents and visitors. 
  • Property: Provides for the replacement of stolen, lost or damaged property in a disaster. 

Visit the Assurance Québec website for more information. 

Find cheap furniture

There are possibilities to furnish and equip yourself at a low cost.  

New products: 

  • IKEA 
  • Walmart 
  • Canadian Tire

Used products: 

Your rights as a tenant

The lease

A lease is a rental contract concluded between a landlord and a tenant in order to define their respective commitments regarding a dwelling. It is mandatory to sign a lease for any new rental of a dwelling, whether it is a room, an apartment, a condominium, a house, etc. 

It is best to visit the unit and ask the landlord questions before signing a lease.    

In Quebec, a lease generally lasts one year (12 months) but there are also different possible durations depending on the type of rental. 

For more information on leases, rent increases, obligations, etc., visit the website of the Administrative Housing Tribunal: https://www.tal.gouv.qc.ca/fr/signature-d-un-bail/qu-est-ce-qu-un-bail.   

When to pay rent?

aying the rent, in full and on the scheduled date, is the main obligation of a tenant. This is one of the essential elements of the lease. 

You must pay your rent on the 1st day of each month.

Certain practices are prohibited by law with regard to the payment of rent. Please read it on the Éducaloi website.  .   

Official websites on the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants

Government of Quebec: Rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.  

Administrative Housing Tribunal.  

Éducaloi, a legal education organization – Housing component.  

You should also know that, if you have dental coverage under the ASEQ insurance plan, you can benefit from a legal protection program that allows you to obtain a legal consultation. To find out if you have ASEQ-Dental coverage, check your tuition bill for the term in IDÉ, Enrolment section.  

Accommodation search sites 

The Service des études supérieures et de la réussite étudiante (SESRE) offers you tools and websites to help you find your future home. 

Make an announcement in your Research Centre 

Ask  your Research Centre’s Student Records Contact to  see if there is a bulletin board or if you can send a message to your colleagues that you are looking for housing or someone to share housing with. 

 

Short-term rental for the first few weeks 

If you have not found accommodation before your arrival or if you do not have a contact to accommodate you when you arrive, it would be best to book temporary accommodation for the first few weeks. You can then do your own research on the spot, as most landlords favour tenants they can meet.  

Rental apartments, rooms (private market) 

Here are the best sites to search for accommodation on: 

  • Facebook : Marketplace 
  • Facebook: Search groups by neighbourhood (Example: Apartment for rent in Montreal, Housing for rent in Quebec City, etc.). This allows you to look at the ads or publish your own. 

Student residences and housing 

Some of these residences give priority to students from their institution, but they are also open to all university students. 

City of Montreal:

City of Laval:

Quebec City:

Other cities:

Support in your search for accommodation 

Municipal housing authorities 

Municipal housing authorities can support you in your search for housing and offer you a list of private housing managers and a list of search sites by locality. 

Municipal housing authorities 

Municipal housing authorities can support you in your search for housing and offer you a list of private housing managers and a list of search sites by locality.   

  • Montreal:  https://www.omhm.qc.ca/fr/  

Community Social Services (211) 

Socio-community resources that will help you find solutions to get out of a precarious situation. You will find, among other things, help in finding accommodation. 

  • By phone: dial 211 

Immigration procedures for studying in Quebec
Immigration procedures for studying in Quebec
Assurances santé pour les étudiant·es étranger·ères
Assurances santé pour les étudiant·es étranger·ères
Welcome and Orientation
Welcome and Orientation