While avoiding exposure to the virus has been a challenge for everyone, apartment dwellers face a whole host of additional risks. That’s because those living in apartments are exposed to shared facilities such as elevators, common rooms, and mailboxes.

If you’re living in an apartment during COVID-19, we’re here to help. We’re here to provide you with our apartment resources and information on how to stay safe in your apartment community during the pandemic.

Preventing Coronavirus in Your Apartment

The Government of Canada has provided plenty of advice on how you and your family can stay safe generally. Have a look at their recommendations here.

But for those living in an apt complex, keeping safe and practicing sanitary prevention habits takes a bit more research and reading. As mentioned, many apartments feature common areas, shared mailboxes, lobbies, trash chutes, and lots of door handles that are touched often.

That means there’s a lot more potential exposure to coronavirus than one would like.

From your hygiene to how to look after your apartment, we’ve put together some advice on how to prevent coronavirus for renters and those living in flats.

Wash Your Hands Often

It goes without saying, but everyone right now should be washing their hands often.

Wash your hands if you touch another person or a shared common surface. Wash your hands before and after cooking. Wash your hands after using the bathroom.

Wash your hands after you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose. Wash your hands after you’ve been outside.

Basically, wash your hands often. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer with 60 to 95 percent alcohol.

For the best success of preventing coronavirus, follow the government’s advice on the most efficient handwashing practices.

Avoid Contact With People Who Are Ill

This is another point that may seem obvious, but it must be noted, nevertheless. While you don’t always know who’s ill, if someone seems unwell, be sure to minimize contact with them as much as possible.

When you go to the shops, pharmacy, or anywhere else, spread out. Avoid shaking hands and don’t be worried about offending anyone. Most people understand the current needs for no contact.

In the apartment complex, avoid being around people who seem unwell. As mentioned above, generally you should be avoiding touching common surfaces around the building anyway.

Wear a Face Mask

When moving around outside and within your apartment complex, be sure to wear a face mask. That’s even if you’re just passing through the apartment building lobby or the apartment building hallway.

As most people are staying indoors, all common areas in your complex are considered a public space, so treat it like that.

Clean and Disinfect Your Apartment

When inside an apartment, you should make sure it’s neat, clean, and tidy to ensure a healthy environment. Clean the apartment regularly and sanitize items and surfaces. This includes kitchen counters, doorknobs, bedside tables, bathroom fixtures, toilets, refrigerator handles, light switches, mobile devices, computer keyboards, and more.

By keeping your apartment clean regularly, you can do your best at preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Stock up (But Don’t Hoard)

While it’s unlikely, there may be a chance you’ll get sick and will need to quarantine in your apartment. In most cases that shouldn’t last longer than two weeks, but you should still make sure to stock up on basic food items, so you don’t need to leave the apartment.

We suggest buying non-perishable goods such as canned beans, soups, broths, stews, fruits, and vegetables. You can also buy ready to eat foods like peanut butter, crackers, nuts, dried fruits, and granola bars.

Don’t forget essentials like toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues, feminine products, laundry detergent, and hand sanitizer too. Plus, you may need some over-the-counter medicines and prescriptions.

Remember, stock up but don’t hoard. The supermarkets aren’t going to sell out of food, and you should just buy the supplies you need for two weeks.

Check out this resource list of recommended foods to buy for quarantine.

Preventing Coronavirus in Your Apartment Complex

If you’re living in a public area like an apartment complex, the apartment manager must implement protections from coronavirus for residents. After all, you don’t have control of everything in the building so it can be harder as an individual to stay safe.

If you’re worried that your landlord or apartment manager isn’t preparing for COVID-19 prevention efficiently, don’t be shy to have a chat with them. Here are some ideas you can suggest.

Make Hand Sanitizer Available

If there are hand sanitizer bottles left in common areas around the complex, people are more likely to clean their hands more regularly, thus reducing the risk of coronavirus. Perhaps you could suggest that hand sanitizers are provided in areas of the building for residents, staff, and guests to use. For example, they could be left at the front desk and in the gym.

Clean Regularly

While apartment complexes should be cleaned regularly anyway, now it’s more important than ever. Just like your apartment, common spaces should be regularly cleaned and sanitized.

Areas and surfaces that are touched often should be disinfected several times a day. For example, door handles, elevators, mailroom boxes, and the front desk.

Keeping Your Complex Clean With Apartment Resources

We hope our shared apartment resources are helpful to you if you’re living in a building complex and are hoping to stay safe from COVID-19. As mentioned, if you’re worried about the cleanliness of your apartment complex, don’t be afraid to get in contact with the building manager to voice your concerns.

Or perhaps you’re looking for a new flat to live in? If so, check out our advice to help you find a new apartment in Canada.

And why not? You don’t want to pay rent for a place you’re not living in. When it comes to short-term rentals, be it through a platform like Airbnb, or subletting to a friend, there are some things you need to know.

What your tenant insurance covers

Tenant insurance offers three coverage types:

●      Contents insurance – protects your valuables like furniture and electronics.

●      Liability – protection in case someone injures themselves in your unit, or you damage an adjoining property.

●      Living expenses – pays for your accommodation needs and related costs If you’re affected by an insured loss (e.g. flooding or fire).

Your own renter’s insurance policy only protects you, not the subletter. So, while you’re away, inform your insurer about the change and inform the sublessee to get their own renter’s insurance.

Renter’s insurance doesn’t cover water damage beyond a burst pipe or even identity theft. Still, you can customize and add coverage extensions to your policy to protect against those perils or simply make sure to take necessary precautions against them.

Questions your tenants insurance provider will ask

The initial questions when setting up a policy are where you live, the type of space and square footage, who lives in the home with you, the cost of all your contents, and when you need the policy to start.

If they don’t ask about subletting or using home-sharing programs, be forthright with that information. Lying to your insurance provider could lead to a denial of a submitted claim and cancellation of your policy. Subletting may also increase your premium because there is a higher risk of a claim while you’re away. If you sublet often, the riskier you are to insure, so keep it to a minimum if you can.

Check on rules and regulations

It’s important to know what overarching contracts are in place that may affect your decision. Whether it’s already in your lease agreement, rules set out by the condo board or municipal laws, you want to understand and comply with these rules before listing your apartment’s availability. Also, knowing the rules will make for a better impression with your landlord. For instance, according to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, you can’t sublet for a rent that’s greater than your own.

Ask your landlord

The act also stipulates, “A tenant may sublet a rental unit to another person with the consent of the landlord.” So, you need to be clear and upfront with your landlord to avoid legal action or eviction. Tell them the reasons why you want to sublet. They may offer an alternative, or even say no, so prepare yourself, think of their questions and be ready with solutions. It’s important to show your landlord you care about the space, and the building. Don’t make it about making money, but rather a method to cover expenses while you’re away.

Speaking with your landlord is essential, and not only because it’s their property, but they’ll be taking on some risk themselves. Renter’s insurance covers your contents and if any injuries happen within your unit. Their insurance policy covers risks for the building. If your new sublessee injures themselves on the shared front steps, it falls to their landlord’s insurance policy, not yours. The more you help your landlord, the greater likelihood of success.

Create rules that work for everyone

Reach an agreement with your landlord about the sublet length, how many people can stay, and be sure to disseminate the rules to each tenant. Keep your landlord informed of any renter changeovers. Share valuable information like emergency phone numbers, evacuation plans, and where the fire extinguisher is located. Over-communicate with your guests about expectations and rules. Remember, this is a risk you’re taking on, and you want to avoid any problems.

What about home-sharing?

Here’s what you should know about home-sharing platforms, like Airbnb. Airbnb offers 2 types of insurance, each offering $1 million for third-party claims and property damage. Sounds pretty good; however, this Airbnb insurance isn’t for you, it’s for the homeowner.

And most home insurance providers don’t allow for short-term rentals. Airbnb themselves state on their website that their insurance doesn’t replace the homeowner’s insurance. Your landlord will need to check with their insurer if you want to go the Airbnb route. 

The real challenge is because you don’t have an insurable interest as someone who doesn’t own the property, so getting coverage in your name might not be possible. To make matters more complicated, you could even void your tenant’s insurance if you home-share without notifying your provider.

In the end

Subletting your apartment, like most income producing ideas, carries some risk. Seek to protect yourself for a smoother experience.

Guest post by Tyler Wade, Content Writer at Ratehub.ca. Ratehub.ca is Canada’s leading comparison site for mortgage rates, credit cards, bank accounts, investing products and insurance rates.

These include the country’s capital and a globally recognized metropolis. However, it takes a deeper look to really appreciate the best that the province has to offer.

Ottawa, Toronto, and several other Ontario cities are home to some of the coolest neighbourhoods in the country.

The next time you’re exploring any of these Ontario cities, be sure to check out these neighbourhoods that have a unique flair and culture all of their own.

10. Byward Market – Ottawa

No matter how you define cool, you can probably find it in Byward Market. Some of the most vibrant nightlife in Ottawa can be found in Byward, and the shopping is the best in the city. This is a very urban, condo-centric neighbourhood, with the population mostly comprised of young professionals. The outdoor market itself is the best in the city, and the National Gallery of Canada is a national benchmark for artistic excellence.

9. The Annex – Toronto

The Annex is a multicultural neighbourhood located north of Bloor Street between Bathurst and Avenue Road. It might be the best place in Toronto to meet people from all walks of life. People from various international backgrounds, some of the city’s most successful elite, and University of Toronto students all rub shoulders in this midtown neighbourhood.

8. Augusta Street –Hamilton

Augusta Street in Hamilton is home to historic landmarks, the best local pubs in town and puts visitors in close proximity to the James Street Shopping District. The real highlight of the neighbourhood is the pubs. A series of locally owned and eclectic pubs with names like the Pheasant Plucker and the Cat’N’Fiddle mean that you can spend as much time as you want at the local watering holes and almost never repeat yourself.

7. Bloor-Yorkville – Toronto

Bloor-Yorkville is cool in an entirely different way from most of the hotspots that make an appearance on this list. Here, you get a taste of the glamour and the luxury that a true metropolis like Toronto can offer. You can watch the glitterati walk by and browse through the shops of globally recognized designers like Hermes and Chanel. Decadence is the name of the game in Yorkville, and for those who enjoy that lifestyle it is the best the city has to offer.

6. Richmond Street – London

London is a college town through and through. While this city is actually the 10th largest in Canada, it feels much more like a quintessential American college town thanks to the University of Western Ontario. Head down to the Richmond Street neighbourhood to get the true “college-town” experience. Most of the hangouts favoured by the college-students are spread throughout this district

5. Old Walkerville Neighbourhood – Windsor

The Old Walkerville neighbourhood lets visitors take a step back into the history of Windsor. Historic buildings and businesses that have been there for generations mingle with hip new restaurants and eclectic shops. The Hiram Walker & Sons head office still stands in the neighbourhood as the best example of the architecture from the time of the former town site’s glory days. The neighbourhood is also home to some of the most architecturally interesting and beautiful buildings in the city of Windsor.

4. Streetsville – Mississauga

Streetsville resembles a hidden European village tucked amidst the hustle and bustle of the more than 5 million people who call the Greater Toronto Area home. It’s a great walking neighbourhood, and nearby Go train stations make it easy to get here from anywhere in the GTA. The local shops and restaurants are tucked in between the Credit River and substantial green space, adding to the small-town feel of this Mississauga neighbourhood.

3. The Distillery – Toronto

The Distillery District was once the site of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery. Now, it is one of the most popular destinations in the city of Toronto. The distillery buildings have been converted into more than 80 shops, featuring the works of local artisans, art galleries, restaurants and more. Highlights include the famous Mill Street Brewpub, and the Soulpepper Theatre Company, one of the most acclaimed theatre companies in the city.

2. The Glebe – Ottawa

The Rideau Canal borders the Glebe to both the south and the east. Skating the Rideau is one of the quintessential winter experiences in Ottawa.

A more family oriented neighbourhood than some members on this list, the Glebe exhibits a quiet cool, characterised by a true neighbourhood feel.

There are dozens of the best dining options in the city scattered throughout the Glebe, making it one of the most popular destinations for a date night in the Capital.

1. Queen West – Toronto

Queen West is not only one of the coolest neighbourhoods in Toronto, but is generally recognized as one of the coolest in the world. In 2014, Vogue Magazine named it the second coolest neighbourhood on the planet, and today the neighbourhood maintains the same cutting edge vibe that it did a year ago.

This neighbourhood is home to historic art hotels like the Gladstone, live music venues, and secret art galleries that only the hipsters know about.

Dining options are mostly locally owned and keyed in to the tastes of the time.

There are plenty of locally sourced, ethical meals to be enjoyed here. Ultimately though, Queen West is the coolest neighbourhoods in the province because it has something to offer everyone at almost every hour of the day.

While these are some of the most well-known neighbourhoods in Ontario, there are many others that are just as cool and offer plenty of opportunities. If you are looking for a home for sale in Ontario, make sure you assess your true needs, determine your budget, find a good lender, and a good real estate agent.

Whether you’re renting a home in a cozy suburban neighbourhood or you’ve relocated to a massive high-rise in an urban metropolis, getting to know the people closest to you doesn’t have to be as scary or challenging as it might seem. In fact, your new neighbours will often be understandably curious about you — as a newcomer, they’ll want to know what kind of tenant you are (clean? conscientious? friendly?), and the more you recognize and acknowledge your floor or street-mates, the safer and happier everyone will feel.

For those reasons, we’ve compiled some effective tips to help you break the ice, feel welcome, start up some new relationships, and hopefully start making some new friends!

Have the Right Attitude.

First off, you’ve got to embrace the idea of welcoming new friendships into your life. This means projecting a positive, friendly, and outgoing demeanor that others will naturally respond to. This is no time to close yourself off from making contact! If you’re living in a busy apartment building, remember to smile, make eye contact, and say hello to those you share the elevator, stairs, or lobby with. Obviously, you want to avoid seeming too friendly — creepy vibes will not win you new pals (or the right ones, anyway). But making small talk is a good way to break the ice, and gets you one step closer to learning about someone new.

When you meet a person for the first time, it’s okay to ask their name and maybe shake their hand — you can explain that you’re new to the area and interested in meeting your neighbours. A great way to initiate this conversation is to ask about the building: how long they’ve lived there, how they feel about the amenities or landlord, and other related questions. Part of the difficulty of making new friends as an adult is that we’re reluctant to admit that we do indeed want friends! So break this stigma by swallowing your fear and making the first move. Once you’re talking with someone, remember to be polite, maybe make a compliment (if it feels right), ask them questions, and really listen to their answers. People naturally enjoy talking about themselves, and the more you learn about your neighbours, the more you’ll be able to figure out who’s who and who’s receptive to new relationships.

One tried and true icebreaker is to bake some cookies or other sweet snacks, knock on your neighbours’ doors, and offer them — you can say you made up a whole batch for another function but ended up having extras. Some people might think this is weird, but that’s okay — others will absolutely love the gesture and either way, you’re meeting new people in the process.

Accept Invitations and Attend Events.

If you’re asked to attend something — a dinner party, a casual drink, a game night, a cocktail party, or something similar — you should make every effort to show up (it’s often easier and more enticing to just curl up on the couch, but you’ve got to be proactive)! Try to say yes to any invitation you receive; otherwise, by saying no you might not get another invite. Obviously, use common sense, and never accept an invitation from someone who makes you feel uncomfortable.

Apartment buildings will routinely have flyers or posters advertising some event (a movie night or a meet and greet, for example) in the lobbies or elevators. Rather than ignore these, use them as a way to put faces to names and even find some people who share your interests and hobbies.

Be Visible.

In an apartment building, being visible means actually spending time in communal areas — games rooms, patios, pools, gyms, entertainment rooms, and so forth. It also means spending time on your balcony. For those living in houses, this means spending more time on your front lawn (or on your porch) than in the back. Sit out with a cold drink in the summer or invest time in a garden project. The more you’re seen around the house, the more chances you’ll strike up a conversation with a passerby and make a new contact.

This also entails spending more time on walks or jogs nearby. Start being part of the scenery and people will naturally associate your presence with their home! Strolling and jogging are great ways to find like-minded people who might want to enjoy your hobby with you. Shopping in local establishments (and maybe even becoming a ‘regular’) will slowly but surely allow you to get to know other regulars, servers, bartenders, baristas, and shopkeepers. Adult friendships don’t happen over night, so take it slow and remember that becoming a real regular will take time!

Dogs and children make excellent ice-breakers, too. Parents of young children will immediately bond with others in the same boat, and the more moms and dads you know in your building or on your street will make finding a babysitter all the more convenient. Schedule a play-date or a trip to the park on a Saturday and start bonding with other young families. If you don’t have a human child, your four-legged companion will also do the trick! Rather than walk Fido alone, see who might be up for group dog walks or trips to the dog park (you can post a sign suggesting this if you aren’t comfortable asking strangers in person). As long as your dog likes other dogs, this boost of community will make your pet much happier, too!

Attract Friends to You!

A yard or garage sale is also a fine way to make introductions seem easy. If you advertise your sale properly, you’ll have a slew of shoppers from all over the ’hood coming to you. Whenever you see some friendly folks, you can introduce yourself and ask about the neighbourhood, where they live, and how long they’ve been in the area. This is an ideal way to make some fast friends.

If you’re feeling brave, you can also host a move-in party. Use your yard sale to hand out invites to this casual affair, or you can go door to door in any neighbourhood or apartment building with hand-made invitations. Serve up some BBQ, cold drinks, and light snacks and keep the atmosphere casual and friendly. Even if you only get a handful of people, those are four or five more than you’d know otherwise, and you don’t have to spend too much money to do it!

At the end of the day, we’re here to make every part of moving locations and renting a home easier. After helping you find rental apartments all across Canada, we also want you to be comfortable and as happy as possible in your new digs. Keep checking our blog for more advice on finding neighbourhoods, renovating and decorating your space, and simply living better. While this particular list of helpful tips is by no means conclusive, it should inspire you to make the first move and start reaching out to those around you. No one wants to be lonely and isolated, so the first step toward finding a new community is to realize that you don’t have to be!

These are the nightly sights and sounds you can experience by living in Port Credit, Mississauga — one of the prettiest, quaintest, and most desirable neighbourhoods in the entire city!

Mississauga itself has some tremendous perks for would-be residents. If you work in Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, or elsewhere, it’s no sweat heading in: GO Stations (including one right in the heart of Port Credit!), connections to the QEW highway, and multiple MiWay transit lines make the city a commuter’s dream. But living in Mississauga also means lower rent and costs of living than the capital, meaning you’ll save money even with those frequent forays. And Pearson Airport is only a short drive away, giving easy access to flights for extremely mobile professionals.

As for work and education, MoneySense magazine rated Mississauga as the 11^th best city in the country. With many Fortune 500 companies in the banking, pharmaceutical, and finance industries calling it home, it’s a great place to find careers at all levels. You’ve got 15 universities within an hour’s drive, and both Sheridan College and the University of Toronto have Mississauga-based campuses. The city is also home to numerous newcomer families from diverse backgrounds: approximately half the residents speak English as a second (or third, or fourth!) language — meaning there’s probably a cultural heartbeat for you, regardless of where you come from.

In particular, you’re going to want to live in the “Village on the Lake” and start looking for great apartments for rent in Mississauga with our useful directory. Situated at the mouth of the Port Credit River, the Port Credit community boasts a good share of Mississauga’s 480 parks and woodland areas, including JJ Plaus Park, Memorial Park, St. Lawrence Park, Tall Oaks Park, J.C. Saddington Park, and the very fun Jack Darling Memorial Park, where you can catch some rays near the beach, let your dog run wild, share a picnic, or explore the trails. If you’re a golfer, you’ll also want to check out the Mississauga Golf and Country Club, which is a recognizable strip of green across the neighbourhood.

If you can take or leave parks, then maybe you’d rather enjoy out all the amazing shops, boutiques, restaurants, diners, and quaint cafes near the water and marina near Lakeshore Road East, which cuts right through the community (and if you need to do any other shopping, you’re still very close to Square One, of one Canada’s largest shopping centres). Port Credit residents love living so close to the water, feeling those gentle summer breezes blow in off the lake while they check out the Port Credit In-Water Boat Show, the annual Waterfront Festival, Busker Fest, Southside Shuffle Blues Festival, Paint the Town Red, and more. Summer’s such an amazing season in Port Credit — the boardwalk is great for cycling, strolling, and rollerblading, and even better if you want to get into boating yourself!

Right now there are a number of great high-rise apartment listings in the Port Credit community available for you to peruse in our database. Live high in the sky and watch the sun rise and set each night over the lake with an amazing view of Toronto! Let us help you join the old-fashioned, ‘village-within-a-city’ vibes of Port Credit, and start enjoying the good life.

However, and sadly, for many of us owning a home in Kingston or another city of our dreams is a distant or completely unrealistic fantasy. We’re either forced to wait until our financial or credit situation improves enough to make the necessary down payments, we settle with a place far from our ideal urban location, or we buy a more affordable home in the inner suburbs, squeezed out of the most attractive neighbourhoods that give a city character and charm (this is especially troubling in Toronto). Did you know that in conjunction with Blue Chip Mortgage, we recently completed an infographic that shows the necessary salary to buy a home in cities across Canada? The results may shock you.

In Kingston, the average price of a single-detached house in the fall of 2010 was $276,500. The average price of a home in the same season was $248,800. Assuming a 5–10 percent down payment for the home, a 5-year fixed mortgage rate of 5.59 percent, and a 25 year amortization, hopeful Kingston homebuyers are looking at a down payment of $12,440, an insurance fee of $7,682 (at 3.25 percent of the mortgage after the down payment), leading to mortgage payments of just over $1,500 per month. Even if the down payment and mortgage payments can be made, Kingston homeowners also have to pay well over $3,000 per year on property taxes — fees for fire, garbage, education, and other city services. Then there are upkeep concerns — plumbing, electrical, infrastructure, and so forth. It makes for a handsome bill each month.

While $1,500 per month for a small home — split between two people, if you’re a couple — isn’t too much different from renting a space in the city. But for many people, amassing a $12.5k down payment before buying makes little financial sense. Students in Ontario have an average debt of $28,000, which often takes many years to pay down. The average Canadian family is over $100,000 in debt. With these figures, having surplus savings for many Canadians — or surplus income that isn’t immediately used to help pay off enormous debt loads, with huge interest rates — simply isn’t in the cards. Taking a look at our infographic, London, Ontario is comparable to Kingston in terms of the cost of homes; therefore, according to our calculations, a homeowner would need a salary of at least $54,395 per year. And with our dwindling middle class and booming low-wage service industry, reaching this kind of salary is ever more of a rarity.

If you’re not yet ready to commit to such prices, still paying off your debts, or still climbing the corporate ladder, but you still want to live in Kingston, then we’re here to help you every step of the way by finding you a great place to rent! Even if you are in a position to buy, but you’d like to experience the city before committing to a particular neighbourhood, renting is an excellent way to live in the city for a short term without numerous obligations. Check out our extensive directory of apartments — you can narrow and customize your search to look for area, price, furnishings, parking, pet-friendly pads, and a whole lot more. Using our handy, social-media-integrated service will put you in direct contact with landlords and property owners looking to rent apartments in Kingston fast. Without a portal like ours, you’re forced to wade through a confusing jumble of ads, troll the streets looking for ‘For Rent’ signs, or reliant upon word of mouth.

Kingston is truly a beautiful, clean, safe, and happening place to live. But like all Canadian cities, it’s going to cost you if you want to own property. Get on your feet and stay where you love to live by renting a cool yet inexpensive apartment, and start planning for that future home — whenever the day might come.

Many cities across Canada are now offering “green bins” to their residents that can be filled with household organic waste.

According to a 2013 Statistics Canada survey, 45 per cent of all Canadian households reported composting kitchen waste and 68 per cent of people with a lawn or garden composted yard and garden waste.

More than 60 per cent of these households used curbside collection programs.

But what can you do if you live in a rental apartment building and don’t have access to one of these green bins?

It’s a common misconception that apartment dwellers simply cannot join the green team by composting. These tips will help you change all of that!

Where to Put It

You’ve made the decision to compost, but the location is an issue. Apartment composting is not any different than composting in a backyard – you just need to do it on a smaller scale.

If you have a balcony, putting your compost container outside would be ideal. Otherwise, under the kitchen sink is a great place to put it (especially if it is right beside your regular garbage can. It will remind you to compost that organic waste!).

What You Need

To create a simple composting system, you will need a few supplies. A plastic or ceramic container will be first on your list.

The size of the container will depend on your needs and how much organic kitchen waste you create – just remember that the bin you choose must come with a lid that fits securely.

You’ll also want to grab a tray to put under the bin in case of any spills or leaks. Finally, you’ll need some soil/fertilizer and some old newspaper to get your compost bin running at full speed.

Getting Started

Composting is very easy to do once you get your container set up. Prepare your bin by first adding a layer of soil that is several inches deep and then cover it with a layer of dry, shredded newspaper.

Finally, you’ll need to poke holes into the lid of your container to allow air to circulate properly (and prevent bad odours in the long run!). Now you’re ready to begin adding your organic kitchen waste.

For rental apartment compost bins, the smaller you can make the waste the better it will be. Remember that you are using a much smaller container, so the waste needs to fit the bin.

Maintenance

When you add your organic waste, throw in some shredded newspaper at the same time – this keeps the wet/dry balance in check.

Mix your compost once a week and add a fresh scoop of soil to accommodate the new scraps.

When you’re ready, your compost can be used to fertilize potted plants in your rental unit, donated to a local community garden or even used on the flowerbeds at your apartment building.

If enough people are composting in your building, you could start a rooftop garden that everyone can use.

More Tips

Below we offer even more great tips on how to make composting in your apartment a reality!

Figure out how much food waste you create. Hate crusts? Eat a lot of shelled nuts? Do you have a balcony? Some spare room?

1. Determine the best place for compost: Under the sink, in a closet, on the balcony, in a window flower box.

2. Obtain something to compost in: A plastic/metal box, a garbage can.

3. Punch holes in the base and sides of your composting box.

4. Get a tarp or a tray to go under your compost box.

5. You will need some soil or fertilizer to start. Place a three-inch layer of soil into the box. You will also need to sprinkle in a handful or two of dry bedding. This can be leaves, newspaper, (no colored inks or glossy magazines) straw, dry grass clippings, cardboard, nutshells.

6. Learn what can be composted and what cannot.

7. Shred, pulverize and cut your compostables as finely as possible to speed process.

8. Add equal parts dry bedding to the compost heap.

9. Stir the compost every week or two.

10. Add a handful of fresh soil every fortnight to refresh microbe supply.

11. If composter emits odor, add more dry bedding. If it’s dripping liquids, add more dry bedding.

12. Create another compost box.

13. Once your original box begins to get full, scoop out fine soil-like compost into your new box. You should have one box for finished compost and one box for compost in the making.

Go Green! 🙂

The RentSeeker.ca Team

If you are like many people, you may not consider your personal apartment security to be very important. After all, you are only one apartment in a building full of units. So why would you need to worry about burglary? However, recent statistics reported by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show that burglary accounts for 22% of all property crime. So how do you prevent yourself from becoming just another statistic and increase the security for your apartment?

Doors

Before moving in, ask if the door to your apartment will be re-keyed.
Sometimes a previous tenant will still have a copy of the apartment key, and you do not want them to be able to access your home. You may need to make copies of your keys, but most apartment owners don’t allow key copies for anyone who doesn’t live in the apartment, including friends, partners and family.

If the lock on your door is not a deadbolt, ask for one to be installed. You’ll also want to have a peephole in the door so you can see who is outside, especially if someone knocks and you are not expecting company! Remember: it is your right as a tenant to feel secure and safe in your own home.

Balconies and Sliding Doors

Ah, sliding doors that open out onto a beautiful balcony – who wouldn’t want to leave the door open to get let in the fresh air?
Well, criminals are counting on you to leave those doors open.
Especially if your rental unit on a floor close to the ground If you are not going to be home, or it is night, close and lock your sliding doors.

Even if you are on a higher floor, a determined criminal really doesn’t mind as long as they have easy access to your home. Further to that, do not leave any valuable items on your balcony and keep a broom handle or any long stick in the track of sliding doors as a further security precaution.

Entranceway

Many rental apartment buildings will have a sign posted in the entranceway to remind you of this very crucial fact: If you do not know who the person is, do not let them in the building.

It may be tempting to be a Good Samaritan and let someone in if they give you a sob story, but you just cannot do so under any circumstances. This is so important that we will repeat it again – if you do not know who the person is, do not let them into the apartment building.

Get to Know Your Neighbours

The more you know your neighbours, the more inclined you will be to look out for each other. Introduce yourself to people in your building and ask if there is a crime watch group (and if there isn’t, why not start one?).

Let your neighbours across the hall from you know if you will be away for an extended period of time, and perhaps they can pick up your mail so it won’t look like the apartment is empty. Better yet, add a “No Junk Mail” sign, which will prevent a build-up of flyers while you’re gone.

IndependentTraveler.com offers these tips for travelling tenants:
1. Ask a Friend to Help
2. Don’t Tip Off Criminals on the Web
3. Hide Valuables or Store Off-Site
4. Leave Your Curtains as you Usually Keep Them 5. Purchase Light Timers 6. Stop Your Mail 8. Unplug Appliances 9. Remove Your Spare Key

Also, when it comes to your name, never use your full name anywhere (mailbox, entry board, etc.); only use initials.

Finally, many advise having an unlisted phone number for safety reasons. This tactic will also cut down on solicitation calls.

See Something? Say Something!

The golden rule – if something doesn’t feel right, let your landlord know. If you witness a crime or suspicious taking place, call the police immediately and don’t try to stop it yourself.

Your safety and the safety of your fellow residents is the most important thing!

Related: Is Renting a Furnished Apartment Worth It?

The RentSeeker.ca Team