Toronto Accommodation

What are the top factors to keep in mind when searching for a place to live in your city?

When searching for a place to live, some important factors to consider are safety, location preference and individual needs. Depending on your preferences, you may want to find a place close to work, school, shops, medical facilities and most importantly an area that is secure and safe. Choosing the right place to live is essential to having a pleasant and safe stay in Toronto.

Below are some helpful factors to keep in mind when looking for a place to live:

  • Price - Toronto's numerous neighborhoods offer a wide variety of price ranges

  • Neighborhood - some expatriates prefer a more country setting, whereas others may prefer to be at the heart of the excitement

  • Housing type - house, townhouse, condominium, apartment, duplex or multiplex

  • Housing condition - older dwellings look more historic, but may require more renovations than newer dwellings

  • Size of family - this may affect housing type and location

  • Distance to work - will you drive, walk or use public transportation to get to work

  • Distance to schools - if applicable, will the children walk to school or is transportation provided for them

  • Proximity of services - public transportation, fitness centers, shopping centers, etc.

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What are the most popular neighborhoods in your city for expats?

  • The DOWNTOWN TORONTO AREA consists of the following neighborhoods: Alexander Park, Cabbagetown, Downtown Toronto, and Harbourfront. Residents come from different backgrounds and span the entire spectrum of the socioeconomic scale. Housing ranges from cooperative housing to luxury lakefront condominium apartments. Fashionable townhouses, semi-detached houses and bungalows are also prevalent in the Downtown Toronto Area.

  • The CENTRAL TORONTO AREA houses the most prestigious and fashionable neighborhoods, which include: The Annex, Casa Loma, Davenport, Forest Hill, Rosedale, South Hill, Summerhill and Yorkville. Some neighborhoods are surrounded by tree-lined streets, ravines, parkland and glamorous storybook homes with high-end price tags. Houses date back as early as 1880. Condominiums and townhouses were built within the last 20 years.

  • The NORTH TORONTO AREA neighborhoods include: Chaplin Estates, Davisville Village, and Lawrence Park. Housing stock includes bungalows, duplexes, apartments, semi-detached and fully detached houses. Chaplin Estates and Lawrence Park have always been two of Toronto's most exclusive addresses. Davisville Village is popular with singles, young couples and families as it is centrally located.

  • The EAST TORONTO AREA comprises the following neighborhoods: Danforth Village, Playter Estates, Riverdale and The Beach. Housing accommodates first-time home buyers and singles as the semis and detached houses are more affordable. In the summertime, thousands of Torontonians and tourists flock to The Beach. Danforth Village reflects the multicultural flavor of the Greek community and the residents who live in this neighborhood.

  • The WEST TORONTO AREA consists of neighborhoods such as Bloor West Village, Carleton Village, High Park, Swansea Village and Wallace Emerson. These popular neighborhoods are perfectly suited for working families. Schools and shops are within walking distance. In addition, High Park, which is the largest and best known park in Toronto boasts rolling hills, winding streets and towering oak trees. Swansea is also the only Toronto neighborhood to have a lake, a river and a pond forming its natural boundaries.

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Do expats tend to buy or rent their homes?

Expatriates normally rent their homes if their stays are short in duration. However, some plan to stay longer and may decide to purchase their homes.

Some companies prefer that a transferee rents a property, if only for the first year, to ensure the family feels comfortable in their selected area.
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Typically, will I be required to pay additional money up front (such as a deposit) before moving into leased housing? If so, how much is common?

You should expect to pay first and last month's rent up front. Beyond that, your lease will clearly state the cost of rent per month, along with whether or not this includes your utilities. The lease also states the length of the occupancy in the property (generally one year), how payment is to be made each month, which appliances are included (if any) and (if applicable) whether or not parking is included.
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Are utilities generally included in the price of rent, or are they extra?

That depends. When renting a home, utilities are not typically included in your tenant contract. However, in condominiums and apartments, some utilities are included in your leasing contract.
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Are there special security concerns I should be aware of in regards to my home or choice of neighborhood?

Even though Toronto is Canada's largest city, it is sixth in the level of violent crime, with a lower crime rate than both of Canada's other large cities — Vancouver and Montreal. Toronto is a remarkably safe and clean city in a remarkably safe and clean country.

Most homes come equipped with efficient security features such as door locks, bolts and security alarm services. Many areas also have neighborhood watch programs that allow neighbors to report any suspicious activity to authorities.
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I’m not sure if I should bring my appliances. What is the electric current, Hz and plug shape in your city?

The electric current in Canada is 120/240 volts. The electrical Hertz (Hz) is 60.

Below are examples of the types of plugs that are used in Canada:

Type A - Flat blade attachment plug

Note: In the U.S. & Canada, two-blade plugs are often polarized, with one blade larger than the other. Most outlets are designed to handle these. The larger blade is the neutral side of the current. This is a safety feature intended so the plug can be inserted one way only to reduce the chance of accidental shock. If you try to plug a modern plug into an old-style receptacle for equal size blades, it won't go in unless you file down the larger blade to the older plug size.

Outside the US, many countries with Type A use the old style plug, and a newer US plug with unequal pins might pose a problem. This can be bypassed using an adaptor (found in many travel kits) which converts the newer Type A plug to the older model with equal-sized blades. Be aware, though, that you might also be bypassing the protection that polarization provides.

Type B - Flat blades with round grounding pin


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Do you have any other accommodation information that might help me?

If you are interested in a particular property, you will be required to complete a preliminary application. At that time, you may be asked to include a letter of employment from your current place of employment on company letterhead. This should indicate your salary, job status and length of employment.

In addition, you may also be required to provide a letter of reference from a former landlord stating something to the effect that you paid your rent on time and were a responsible tenant. You may also be required to provide your Social Insurance Number for credit reference, along with personal reference numbers.
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IMPORTANT NOTE:
Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.