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.

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!

Buying a house or condominium of your own might be out of reach in the early days, so like millions of other Canadians you’ll probably start looking to find a good rental apartment.

Renting an apartment is a great way to get on your feet in your new country, and adjust to work, climate, culture, and other factors in a more relaxed environment.

However, while the process of finding a good rental can be smooth and trouble-free, it’s not always the case. The best way to approach it is to educate yourself as much as possible.

You’ll probably have a number of questions about what’s out there, your rights, your landlord’s obligations, rent, lease agreements, and also simply where to begin your search, so read on to get a sense of what you need to know.

A good place to start reading up on rental information is the “Renting a Home in Canada” section of the Government of Canada website.

There you’ll find definitions for landlords, property managers, and superintendents, and outline your landlord’s key responsibilities (collecting rent, keeping your apartment in working condition, and providing everything stated in the lease agreement).

It also outlines your own responsibilities as a renter (like paying rent, keeping things clean and safe, contacting the landlord in case something needs fixed, and so forth).

The Government of Canada website will also touches on moving in and out, how to inspect a lease agreement, what you need to know about rent increases and how to pay your rent, and some other rights.

Important to note on this website are two links: one is an interlink to an Immigrant Service in your area (Immigrant Services can help you look for a place, get a job, get references, and inspect a lease), and the other is to CMHC (Canadian Mortgage and Homeowners Corporation).

The CMHC is a great resource for first-time renters, and goes into much greater detail than what you’ll find on the Government of Canada website.

It breaks down the rental education process into five key sections:

1) Getting Started (covering your needs, what a landlord cannot ask you, how to make a good impression, the credit check, and the pros and cons of shared accommodations),

2) Renting a Place to Live (how to evaluate areas, particular rentals, rental agreements, deposits, and safety issues),

3) Once a Rental Agreement Has Been Made (helpful tips for moving in, inspecting the building, paying rent, and landlord responsibilities),

4) Issues During the Tenancy (which covers emergencies, repairs, complaints, rent increases, and renewals), and finally,

5) Moving Out (showing you how to handle inspections, ending an agreement, subletting, and deposits).

There’s certainly a lot to know and be aware of; in fact, we could take up an entire blog post on anyone one of these subsections.

But heading to these three important websites—and especially the CMHC — will make the whole process much easier.

One aspect that isn’t covered comprehensively — and isn’t even that helpful, to be honest — is the listed tips on finding a rental apartment.

These sites still recommend scanning classified ads in newspapers, scouring neighbourhoods for ‘For Rent’ signs, or looking at community bulletin boards. While these techniques can indeed lead to success, they aren’t convenient, or all that effective.

The best way to actually find a place to rent is to use our detailed, easy-to-navigate, and extensive directory of apartment listings. We let you find the apartment that’s right for you without having to wade through dozens of other places that aren’t a good fit.

All you have to do is select the city of your choice, establish some basic parameters (like maximum or minimum rent, how many bedrooms you need, and so forth), and hit search.

You can always continue to narrow the field by setting up more conditions with our great search engine. And best of all, our database not only lets you see clear pictures, maps, floorplans, and even videos of any prospective apartment, but it can put you into direct contact with landlords and property managers, shortening the process and getting you one step closer to settling in.

Moving to a new country is always a challenging and demanding experience.

We’re here to make it a bit easier.

Check back often to see new listings in whichever city you plan to live, and get in touch if you have any questions about our service.

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.

Whether you’re a property manager or a renter, knowing your rights and responsibilities when it comes to your apartment is extremely important. While it’s not reasonable or expected for everyone to know everything about the Landlord and Tenant Act in their particular province, being aware of the basics to some of the most commonly asked questions will make for a harmonious rental experience for all involved.

Before we delve into these frequently asked-about issues, remember that the laws in your province may differ from those we discuss here (for ease of explanation, we will focus on Ontario). If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact your provincial Landlord and Tenant Board for more details regarding your specific issue.

Issues Covered in the Landlord and Tenant Act

Privacy

One of the biggest questions tenants have when it comes to the Landlord-Tenant Act has to do with privacy. More specifically, when and how landlords can enter your suite and how much notice they are required to give. In Ontario, the Act states that a landlord must give a tenant 24-hour written notice before entering your suite.

This notice must include the time (it can legally be anywhere between 8 am and 8 pm) and the reason that they need to enter your suite. Routine maintenance, like changing filters in your HVAC system, is just one of the reasons a landlord would need to enter your suite. If it is an emergency, such as a water leak coming from your suite, the landlord does not need to provide you with any notice to enter.

Pets

Another common question for many animal lovers is if they are allowed to have a pet in their apartment. Ontario’s Landlord Tenant Act ensures that “no pet” clauses in a lease are invalid.

This means that a landlord cannot force you to get rid of your pet even if it is written into your lease that you are not allowed to have one. However, this doesn’t mean animals have free reign in your apartment.

If your pet is dangerous, causes allergic reactions in other tenants or causes problems in the building, you must get rid of your pet or move elsewhere. In extreme cases, the Landlord and Tenant Board may issue a written order that you must get rid of your pet.

But if your beloved furry friend is not causing a problem for anyone, you are free to live happily in your apartment with your animal companion.

Lease Agreement

The majority of leases signed in Ontario will be for a duration of one year. When you are ready to vacate, your lease most likely stipulates that you must give a written notice 60 days in advance.

If your lease expires and you have not signed a new one, your tenancy is considered “month-to-month” and the 60 day notice period still applies. If you give your notice late, you will still be responsible for paying for the extra month of rent.

Your lease will also include important information specific to your building and apartment, such as legal information about using an on-site gym, for example. It may be a dry read, but the information contained in your lease agreement is very important.

Documentation

Now that you’ve signed your lease, you’re probably wondering if you even need to bother keeping a copy of it around. While the answer is technically no, it would be wise to have a copy on hand.

You can refer to it throughout your tenancy, specifically if you have a question about what is allowed and what isn’t (like if you can paint the walls, for example).

If there is ever a dispute between you and your landlord down the road, having signed documentation on hand will help to protect you.

The same can be said for any written notices you may receive from your landlord, like warnings about late rent or information regarding when they will be entering your suite to perform maintenance work.

Rent

The amount you pay each month in rent will be written into your lease agreement. The Landlord and Tenant Act in Ontario says that a landlord has the right to raise your rent every 12 months, but they must give you a written notice of 90 days before doing so.

However, your rent won’t be raised to any number the landlord wants – the Annual Guideline Increase ensures that your rent can only be raised by a certain amount each year, as set out by the Government of Ontario.

Your specific lease may have perks attached that will prevent you from being subject to a rent increase, such as signing a lease that is longer than the typical one year.

Eviction

Finally, the issue of eviction can be a thorny one. Hopefully, it is not one that you will ever have to deal with, but there are cases that can be grounds for your tenancy being terminated earlier than your lease stipulates.

This can include non-payment of your monthly rent, the use of your apartment to conduct any illegal activity or the impairment of the safety and enjoyment of other tenants in the building based on your actions or the actions of your guests. Quite simply, this issue has many variables and permutations.

If you receive a Notice of Termination, it is imperative that you contact the Landlord and Tenant Board in your province immediately for guidance.

Related: https://rentseeker.ca/blog/the-residential-tenancies-act-rta-whats-new/

The RentSeeker.ca Team

The recently extended power outages in the Greater Toronto Area over the holidays had us all scrambling to make sure we know how to stay warm when your power goes out next. Bathing, preparing meals and finding ways to pass the time was also difficult (if not impossible) to do.

The 2012 outage report from power management company Eaton Canada showed that over 600,000 people were affected by the loss of power that year, with the majority of them living in Ontario.

While the ice storm of 2013 caught many of us by surprise with its severity and scope, you can be prepared for the next one by gathering a few supplies now.

How to stay warm when your power goes out

Let There Be Light

One of the first things you will want in the event of a power outage, particularly in the winter when the sun sets around 4:30 pm, is a light source.

Purchase a flashlight for each person in your household to keep with them. Lanterns, like the ones you used to take camping as a child, are also effective and can be placed in an area where you will be spending your most time during the power outage.

Many LED lanterns have a life of 10+ hours when used on the lowest setting, so use them sparingly if the power outage is a prolonged one. Remember, however, not to use propane lanterns – only lanterns with an LED light bulb are acceptable for use as they do not produce carbon monoxide.

Candles can be a light source (as well as a heat source) but they must be used with caution, especially if small children or pets live in your home. Keep the candles on a solid, flat surface out of reach of little hands or paws. Never leave a burning candle unattended, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Larger candles with a wide base are ideal, as they will not tip over as easily as a classic candlestick style.

Get Cozy

Trying to stay warm in subzero temperatures can be a challenge when your power is out. Layering your clothing is one of the first steps to creating some warmth, usually with a synthetic layer closer to your skin (polyester, silk or nylon). On top of your base layer, you will want to load up on cotton – and lots of it! Even wearing your winter coat inside can help to keep you toasty.

You can try to create a warm room in your apartment by putting up thick blankets on the walls. To do this, you’ll want to choose the smallest room that you would be most comfortable in; A smaller room is much easier to “heat” than a large living room. Keep your window shades drawn to prevent any cold air from leaking in and pouring into your home. Better yet, build a pillow and blanket fort! Not only will you be cozy and warm, but it will be a fun activity if you have children.

Safety First

The quest for warmth can sway us into making decisions that we would not normally make, such as using a barbecue indoors to help heat our apartments. Remember that these solutions that seem too good to be true generally are – using a barbecue indoors is an immense fire hazard as well as a potential source of carbon monoxide poisoning.

To keep food fresh for as long as possible, avoid opening your refrigerator or freezer doors. Each time they are opened, the cool air escapes and your food will spoil faster. If you are able (and if the power seems like it will be out for a long time), you may wish to transfer your most perishable and expensive items to a cooler with ice packs that you purchased. There is nothing worse than a freezer full of spoiled meat!

Finally, unplug as many things as you can around your home. When the power does come back on, all of these electronics coming online at the same time can create a power surge which may result in damage. Instead, plug each item back in one by one, allowing each one sufficient time to power back up before moving on to the next one.

The Government of Canada Get Prepared website offers more helpful tips for handling a power outage with aplomb:

– First, check whether the power outage is limited to your home. If your neighbours’ power is still on, check your own circuit breaker panel or fuse box. If the problem is not a breaker or a fuse, check the service wires leading to the house. If they are obviously damaged or on the ground, stay at least 10 meters back and notify your electric supply authority. Keep the number along with other emergency numbers near your telephone.

– If your neighbours’ power is also out, notify your electric supply authority.

– Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to a minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored. Also, power can be restored more easily when there is not a heavy load on the electrical system.

– Turn off all lights, except one inside and one outside, so that both you and hydro crews outside know that power has been restored.

– Don’t open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.

– Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors. They give off carbon monoxide. Because you can’t smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening.

– Listen to your battery-powered or crank radio for information on the outage and advice from authorities.

– Make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide detector. If it is hard-wired to the house’s electrical supply, ensure it has a battery-powered back-up.

– Protect sensitive electrical appliances such as TVs, computers, and DVD players with a surge-protecting power bar.

Stay safe & warm this Winter!

-The RentSeeker.ca Team

The temperatures are dropping, the holiday lights and decorations are going up, and the sun begins to set earlier every day. This adds up to one inevitable conclusion – winter is coming. For property managers and landlords, winter adds a new set of responsibilities to your already full schedule. But with a little planning and preparation, you can get your building into tip-top shape in time for the deep freeze. After all, the trusty Farmers’ Almanac is calling for a colder than normal winter throughout most of Canada, with Ontario and Quebec in store for a, particularly snowy winter.

Stock Up Early

Winter storms can often strike with little warning. Once the forecast is in, the rush to Canadian Tire to grab shovels and ice melters is on. Don’t get caught without any of these essential items on your property management checklist! Stock up now while the snow levels are still relatively manageable. If you are one of the lucky people that has a snowblower, give it a tune-up before the first big storm of the season.

Inspect Your Building

Included on your pre-winter checklist should be a thorough examination of the pipes throughout your building to inspect their insulation. The last thing anyone needs in the dead of winter is for a pipe to burst and cause flooding damage (not to mention how cold it will be for all involved!). The boilers and furnaces in your building will also need to be inspected and maintained to ensure a warm winter for your residents. Finally, get your roof inspected so you’ll be able to nip any leaks in the bud before they become larger under the weight of heavy snow. By starting with a detailed inspection of your building and then monitoring all the “moving parts” throughout the season, you’ll be on top of any potential issues.

Inspect Your Property

Large trees and bushes that line your property should be given a good once-over to safeguard from falling branches that result when dying limbs are overloaded with snow and ice. If you have trees on your property that are near hydro wires, you may need to call in the city for help if you notice branches that may cause a problem during a winter storm. Remember that safety is the most important issue here – don’t trim any branches near hydro wires yourself!

Stay on Top of the Weather

Once a storm does hit, don’t put off clearing the snow. Keep your walkway as clean and clear as possible and always put down salt or sand to help with traction. If you wait to clear the snow, you’ll be putting your residents’ safety at risk and causing more headaches for yourself when the snow becomes heavier and more unwieldy. Shovel and put down salt at all entrances and wherever residents may go around the outside of the property. If you have an outdoor parking lot, hiring a company to clear the lot of snow after a big storm would be a wise investment as it would save you time and give your residents peace of mind.

Keep Your Residents Informed

Let your residents know how they can help during the long winter months. If they notice a draft in their apartment, ask them to alert you right away so the issue can be resolved before it gets worse. Put up information about being “winter weather smart” in the common areas of the building, with tips such as turning down your thermostat (but not turning it off!) if they will be away from home for several days and not leaving a window open overnight (hello, burst pipes!). By involving your residents in the process of keeping your building in fighting winter shape, you’ll be helping to create a sense of community and ownership.

As we mentioned, one of the biggest issues during the winter season is frozen pipes. About.com gives you more valuable information in their article “How to Prevent Pipes from Freezing”:

Keep the Heat On

If you or your residents are leaving for a period of time, make sure that the heat is kept on at your property. It may be difficult to convince your residents to leave their heat on when they are away, especially if they are responsible for paying their own utilities. You should inform them that the heat can help prevent pipes from freezing, and if pipes freeze and burst, it can cause a lot of water damage to the property and to their possessions.

The heat does not have to be kept as high as you normally would keep it if you were actually at the property, but keeping it set above 10 degrees Celsius is a good idea. This should provide enough heat to keep the pipes warm and to prevent the water inside from freezing.

Allow Faucet to Drip

If you are afraid a pipe will freeze, you can allow the faucet to drip slightly. Allowing the faucet to be open like this will alleviate pressure in the system. Once a pipe freezes, it is actually pressure that is created between the blockage and the faucet that will cause the pipe to burst, so allowing the faucet to be open will prevent this pressure from building up and thus, the pipe from bursting.

Keep Interior Doors Open

Pipes are often located in cabinets. When the temperatures drop, it is a good idea to keep these cabinet doors open so that the heat from the rest of the house can keep the pipes warm as well. You should also keep all interior doors open so that the heat can flow throughout the home.

Seal Up Cracks and Holes

You should caulk any holes or cracks that exist near pipes. This should be done on both interior and exterior walls. Doing so can help keep the cold air out.

Apply Heating Tape

For pipes that are easily accessible, electrical heating tape may be an option to keep them from freezing. This tape can be applied directly to the pipe.

There are two types of heating tape. There is a type of heating tape that turns on and off by itself when it senses heat is needed and another type of heating tape that needs to be plugged in when the heat is needed and unplugged when not in use. Much like a space heater, these products can be dangerous, so you must follow the product’s direction and safety procedures exactly.

Add Extra Insulation

Pipes that are located in areas that do not have proper insulation, such as basements or attics, may need extra insulation to keep from freezing. Pipes in basements or attics are not the only ones that may not be properly insulated from the cold. If you have had a problem with pipes freezing anywhere in your home, extra insulation may be the cure.

Pipes can be fitted with foam rubber or fibreglass sleeves to help decrease the chances of freezing. This can be an easy solution for pipes that are exposed but can get expensive if walls, floors, or ceilings have to be opened in order to properly insulate the pipe.

Additional insulation can also be added to walls and ceilings to keep the pipes warm.

These tips should help you keep your property and residents warm through the Winter. And remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The RentSeeker Team

With some creative planning and by following some basic rules, you can throw a great get-together for Christmas or New Year’s Eve that will impress your guests and keep your neighbours happy. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get planning!

Apartment Etiquette

First and foremost, if you’re throwing a party in your apartment you need to practice good neighbour etiquette. This means letting your neighbours know in advance that you’ll be having people over – this includes those who live beside, below and above you. Better yet, give them an invite to the festivities.

By giving your neighbours notice, they can make alternative plans to avoid being home when the party will be at its fever pitch. Let them know when they can expect to hear noise from your apartment and when it will end. Keep in mind noise bylaws – 11 pm is generally when noise is expected to be turned down.

You can also offer treats to thank your neighbours when the party is over. A little apartment etiquette goes a long way to keeping your living environment harmonious.

Create Space

Now it’s time to make room for your guests to mingle and relax. Depending on the size and layout of your apartment, you may need to get creative.

Move furniture right back to the wall or remove some pieces altogether by temporarily relocating unnecessary items to your bedroom. Having less seating than you do guests helps to invite conversation, so don’t be afraid to remove chairs that make the main party area too small.

Having a sit-down meal may not be realistic depending on your guest list, so opt for one table that will be home to appetizers, a punch bowl and snacks. Clear away any clutter that has collected on side tables and cabinets to give your guests room to set down their glasses and plates.

Theme and Decor

Next, you’ll want to determine a theme for your party. Do you want to throw an “ugly sweater” event? What about a Mad Men-style cocktail soiree? Depending on your vision, there are a number of options to achieve your ultimate party look.

If a Christmas tree is part of your plans, consider the size and the number of people you want to have over before you take the plunge and purchase a tree. Sometimes a tastefully done tabletop tree is all you need to give your party a festive vibe.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Finally, it’s time to plan your menu. Invite your guests to bring their favourite holiday dish by hosting a potluck dinner, tempt their taste buds with great, pre-made (or handmade by you, if you wish!) hors d’oeuvres, or go all out with a catered affair.

Create a signature cocktail for your party that fits with your theme and be sure to offer a non-alcoholic version. Have plenty of soda, juice and water on hand to offer options to those who wish to not drink.

A sparkling soda with a garnish will feel just as festive as a drink that contains alcohol. As always, it’s important to be a responsible host and ensure your guests don’t consume too much alcohol – and that everyone has a safe way home!

Daily Candy offers some more great tips for hosting the holiday party of your dreams in their article “Small Apartment Party Tips”.

Welcome Wagon

Many buildings have rules against putting stuff in the hallway, but for one night you probably won’t get fined. A doormat not only encourages guests to wipe their feet but also identifies your home as the place to be. Consider hanging a wreath or other festive decoration on your door to further fest up the place.

Hang It Up

Baby, it’s cold outside and every single one of your guests has a coat to store. A foldable rolling rack provides the storage you need. And bags can be placed on the top shelf. Small space studio bonus: Position the rack in front of your bed to create a barrier to the private area. Store under your bed when not in use.

Go for the Green

Just because you don’t have room for a tree doesn’t mean you should eschew the feeling of the season. Consider hanging a wreath on a window. Or pick up some of those boughs on sale at the Christmas tree sidewalk outposts and place them on your coffee table with ribbon or small votive candles. Pick up a bunch of roses for $10 at your local store, cut them super short, and put in juice glasses or repurposed candle jars.

Create a Reveal

I’m a big fan of unveiling a hot dish mid-party. It reinvigorates interest in the food and is a welcome way to circulate among guests. The trick with this tip is to prep and place the dish in the oven pre-party (think baked Brie).

Clean as You Go

Nothing makes a hangover worse than dealing with last night’s remnants. Make occasional sweeps of the area for errant food, plates, and drinks. Edit platters when supplies get low. If you let your guests know where the trash and recycling bins are when you first welcome them, you’ll avoid too much of a mess.

Buffet Is Best

Even if you are hosting a more formal sit-down dinner, it’s best to buffet it — you’ll have more table space for proper place settings and festive decor. Display food on your kitchen countertop or a credenza topped with a festive tablecloth (it’ll be easier to clean up serving spills post-party).

Enhance Your Space

Chances are your table is more of a cafe setup than a formal dining size. Increase surface space with a piece of plywood. Balance over your table and secure with barstools at the ends. Dress with a tablecloth and set for six to eight guests — the perfect number for flowing conversation. Store the wood under your mattress when not in use.

Happy Holidays & Best Wishes to All our Clients & Fans for a Happy, Healthy New Year!!

The RentSeeker.ca Team

Furnished apartments have become so popular that they often warrant their very own sections on websites like Kijiji, Craigslist and RentSeeker.ca.

So what’s all the fuss? Put simply, furnished apartments offer a whole number of advantages for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

If you’re looking for a new home and want to find out if a furnished rental apartment is the best option for you, read on to learn about their many benefits.

Benefits of renting a furnished apartment

1. Easy, Breezy Moving

Let’s face it – no one likes moving. Lugging couches up flights of stairs is a chore that we’d all like to avoid.

With furnished apartments, there is no huffing and puffing and struggling to fit your coffee table into an elevator – the furniture is already set up and waiting for you to come in and relax.

There’s no need to worry about renting a truck or hiring a moving company, either. All you need to think about is bringing in your personal possessions, like clothes and books, while everything else is already there for you.

Many furnished apartments even come complete with a fully stocked kitchen, including plates, glasses and cutlery. Instead of it taking months for you to get settled in, you’ll be living large in only a day or two.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

2. First Apartment? No Problem!

Ah, the first apartment move. It can be stressful trying to find the perfect place to live, let alone figuring out how you’re going to afford all that brand new furniture.

This conundrum is particularly acute for students, who generally have their attention focused elsewhere (like studying for that mid-term.)

Wouldn’t it be nice to just move in and have your bed, television and microwave already there?

Furnished apartments will afford you that luxury and help to reduce the impact that buying furniture would have on your financial bottom line.

The type of furniture you’ll generally find included in these suites are beds, kitchen tables, couches and televisions – in other words, all of the big, heavy stuff that you won’t have to move yourself.

3. Bright Lights, Big City:

If you’re one of the many people who has to move to a new city for work, you already know what a headache it is to arrange shipping your furnishings for a long-haul move.

With a furnished apartment, you can ensure that getting settled in your new city is simply a matter of figuring out the public transit system.

Furthermore, if you plan on bringing out your own furniture at a later date but need to start your new job right away, furnished apartments help you through the transition phase of the move.

Whether you plan on living there for only a few months or for a year, a furnished apartment gives you a comfortable place to hang your hat at night while you sort out the logistics of the big (eventual) move.

Imagine how much easier moving day will be when all you have to worry about is a few boxes!

4. Decor for Dummies

If decorating is not your forte, furnished apartments will be right up your alley.

Having an apartment with art on the walls and little knick-knacks scattered throughout is what really makes it feel like a home. Bare walls give the feeling of temporariness, while tasteful decor gives your apartment that lived-in vibe.

The vast majority of furnished apartments come finished with decorations already in place. While they may not necessarily be completely your taste, it is comforting to move into an apartment that has a ready-made homey feeling.

If you’ve made the decision to go for a furnished apartment, you’ll probably want to make it feel like your own once you move in. Apartment Therapy shows you the way in their piece “Making a Furnished Sublet Feel Like Home”

5. Transitional Phase

Life happens, and sometimes you need to leave a situation you are in but are unable to take any furnishings with you.

Renting a furnished apartment will provide you with all the comforts of home while giving you time to save up the money to buy your own brand new furniture.

6. Easy Monthly Bills

Many furnished apartments are also advertised as being “all-inclusive”. This means that your heat, electricity and water are all wrapped up into your monthly rent charge.

In some cases, “all-inclusive” also means that cable and internet charges are added to your rent each month. These options are very attractive because you will never have to worry about surprise bills – you know exactly how much you’ll need to pay each month and you’ll only be paying it to one person (your landlord).

Things to consider

Now, there are some important things you should consider before deciding on renting a furnished apartment:

1. Lack of Choice

A possible downside to renting a furnished apartment is that you will have zero say in what your furnishings look like. You could get a beautiful leather couch, but you could also get a couch that hasn’t been reupholstered since the eighties ????.

It’s important to look at the furnished apartment before you sign the lease, so you will know if you can live with these items or not.

Also, It’s a good idea to check with the landlord if you can bring in your own furnishings down the road.

2. Liability

As with any apartment, you are liable for damage caused that isn’t regular wear-and-tear. When renting a furnished apartment, it’s important to note that you may be on the hook for replacement of furnishings. If something happens to them (like a large rip or a burn that was inflicted due to negligence). This can be costly if you are not careful.

Moving-in Checklist

If you will be renting a furnished apartment rental, you may be wondering what are some of the things you should ask and know. Well, our team here at RentSeeker.ca, came up with some ideas for you:

1. Items

The first question you should ask is for them to give you an itemized list of the furniture that is included in the apartment and the condition that it is in. For example;

• Couches
• End tables
• Bed(s)
• Kitchen table
• Lamps
• Televisions
• Toaster ovens
• Chairs
• Microwave
• Dishes
• Cutlery
• Crib

and…well, you get the idea.

2. Included or not?

Another important question to ask is if the rent price includes the furniture or if there is a separate fee for that. You don’t want to move in only to realize that there is another fee on top of the one you are paying already.  Know how much the total bill would be at the end of every month!

3. Are utilities included?

Ask  if utilities are included. This can vary by Landlord, so make sure to ASK. The same holds true regarding cable TV, phone lines, etc,.

4. Is there a security deposit for the furniture?

Ask  if there is a security deposit for the furniture. Instead of charging for repair, some landlords will often ask for a deposit to cover any potential damage that might accrue. This can work out to your benefit as it means that if you are careful you wouldn’t have to pay anything for repairs. However the downside is that you have to give a lump sum in advance. This is often negotiable so ask your landlord what arrangements you can work out with them.

5. What type of building amenities are there?

Find out what type of amenities the building and area offer. Sometimes  newer built  furnished property rentals will offer a higher standard of amenities and services on site.

These are some questions we came up with that you might wish to ask your landlord before you commit to  your  rental agreement. Think of your own questions and post them and share them on RentSeeker.ca on twitter — so that others can benefit from your ideas and experiences!

We hope this guide will help you make an informed decision. Let us know in the comments below if you are planning on renting a furnished apartment.

The RentSeeker.ca Team

A rental application is an important document for both renters and landlords.

For renters, it gives you the opportunity to paint an accurate picture of yourself that will assist you in landing the apartment you want.

For landlords, it provides you with vital information that will sway your decision regarding who occupies your apartment for rent.

Here, some tips on how to fill out a rental application like a pro.

Credit Check Information

For most apartments, you’ll need to provide some information, such as your social insurance number, to help the landlord do a credit check.

The credit check does not allow the landlord to see all of your credit cards, student loans and other debts. Rather, they will be provided with your credit score number.

According to The Globe and Mail, the credit score range in Canada is 300 to 900 – the higher the better – and reflects a person’s credit history over the past six years.

Only 5 per cent of Canadians have a score of 850 or better.

If you do not feel comfortable providing your SIN, you do not have to do so.

Be aware, however, that this could negatively impact your chances at getting the apartment.

Speak with the landlord when filling out the application form to see if there are other options for you.

References

Being able to provide contact information for previous landlords will help you greatly. This gives the landlord the opportunity to ask questions about you, like if you paid your rent on time or if you were a good tenant. In most cases, you should get a great reference.

However, if there were any issues, it is important to tell your new potential landlord upfront. Take the time to tell your side of the story and provide background information.

In cases like these, honesty is the best policy – and it’s better for the landlord to hear it from you than to get a nasty surprise when they call one of your references.

Proof of Income

You may be asked to provide proof of income or, at the very least, to tell the landlord how much money you make per month.

While this seems invasive, they need to know that you can pay your rent each month without any problems.

It would be a good idea to bring a copy of your resume with you when you fill out the rental application.

The landlord will then be able to see where you currently work and how long you’ve been there. You may also want to provide your boss as a reference so the landlord can feel comfortable knowing that you are indeed employed where you say you are.

Occupants

Another potential question you will be asked on the rental application is how many people will be living in the unit.

If you will be signing the lease with another person (roommate or spouse) they will need to fill out their own rental application providing the information we have listed here.

This question tends to focus on whether or not others, besides those listed on the lease, will be staying in the apartment. You may also be asked to disclose what type of pet, if any, you will have in the apartment.

It’s important to be fully aware of the tenancy laws in your province before answering these questions. For example, a landlord may say you cannot have pets but the provincial laws may state otherwise.

The website eHow explains further why rental applications are important documents – and what information you should include:

Function

Whether you are renting a home or renting an item like a television or furniture, you will be required to fill out a rental application.

The function of a rental application is to provide the business with information about you, your employment, criminal history and a list of contacts who will be your references. All of these factors will be used to determine whether you are eligible to rent the property or item.

Required Information

Some information on a rental application is desired because it will help determine eligibility, while some information is required. Required information left incomplete on a rental application can make you ineligible to receive the property or item.

Items that may be required on a rental application include full name, both a mailing and current physical address, social insurance number and a phone number or other contact information.

Financial Information

Banking information is often required information on a rental application. Depending on which state you are in, you may be required to give your bank account numbers also, or you may just be asked what bank you use, an estimation of funds in your bank account and a phone number to contact the institution.

This information will be used to make sure that you have funds available to pay for the rental. Employer information may be required in this section of the rental application also. The information used from your employment information determines the eligibility for the rental since it proves that you have a source of steady income.

References

References are contacts that are listed on a rental application. These contacts are people, businesses or banks that can vouch for your ability to pay on time and that can establish your character.

Some rental applications will be thrown out if the references cannot be contacted so it is important to include with each contact the best time to call. The references you choose to put on your rental application can determine whether or not you get the rental.

Legal Information

Most rental applications have a section of legal information. This part of the application will include what landlord or business can do with the information on the application once it is signed.

This may include permission to gain credit reports, contact references and run a criminal history check. It will also state that any information found to be false or incomplete will be grounds for the rejection of the application.

Other legal information may be included in this section depending upon local guidelines and laws for rental applications. Read the application carefully before signing and ask any questions if you feel uncomfortable.

Hopefully, this information will help expedite and explain the rental application process when applying for your new apartment rental!

The RentSeeker.ca Team