Getting Started

How flexible are you about where you will live? Ottawa as many areas with great rental properties, from Alta Vista area to Kanata in the suburbs. Generally, your rental choices are limited to whatever is available and affordable, but there may be trade-offs you will have to consider. Do you need to have public transit within a short walk of your new home? Like most renters, you'll probably have to make a few compromises between what you want or need and what you can afford. Before you start a search, drafting a list of your rental requirements may help.

When looking for a rental home in Ottawa, cost is often a key consideration. What you can afford on rent depends on a number of factors: household income, outstanding debt, utilities and other living expenses. Consider how much debt you are comfortable with, how important your lifestyle is to you and how much you want to put aside for the future.

The basic monthly rent is an obvious cost, but many less-visible costs add up as well. Don't forget to consider the following:

• Are utilities, such as heat, electricity, water, cable television and Internet connection included? If not, these costs may come as an unwelcome surprise. Find out which utility companies provide services to that building and contact each company to see if it can provide an average monthly cost for the rental location. The exact usage will vary from tenant to tenant and costs fluctuate, but these estimates will give you a good idea of what to expect as monthly fees.
• Don't forget to estimate the cost of extras such as laundry and parking, where these have not been included.
• What about transportation costs? Will your monthly travel costs increase, decrease or remain about the same at this new location?
• You may need to provide your own appliances. If you have to purchase or rent these, include them into the total cost of renting.
• Is any form of provincial/territorial rent control in place? If not, what are the landlord's plans for future rent increases?
• Are there enough bedrooms?

As a general rule your monthly shelter - including rent, electricity, heat, water, and municipal services - should be less than 30% of before-tax household income. However, there will be circumstance and/or markets where it is difficult to find rental accommodations that accommodate this. The cost of property insurance, parking, cable, telephone service, and Internet connection are not included in this calculation.

Location will often drive a rental search, Ottawa is a city of a variety of neighborhoods, each one with it's own unique flavor and benefits. Prime locations cost more, but they often offer advantages, including reduced commuting time and expense. Proximity to work, school, public transit or other amenities helps pinpoint ideal locations. Other important considerations are safety and proximity to family and friends. Prepare a list of locations that best match your personal needs and then, add secondary locations that you would also consider.

When you begin to look at possible rentals, it's important to evaluate the location as well as the building and living space. Remember to consider the following:

• Crime level in the area.
• Distance to work and/or school, friends and family.
• Access to public transit and major roads.
• If you have children, are parks and play areas nearby? What about schools?
• Local amenities: entertainment, recreation facilities, shopping, library, restaurants.
• Traffic: are the roads busy? What about heavy traffic at rush hour or seasonal times?
• What is your impression of the general air quality?
• How are the noise levels in the area at different times of day?

Ottawa Apartment Rental Guide

• Overview: Ottawa Apartment Rental Guide
• Ottawa Renting Rules
• Search Current Ottawa Apartment Listings
• Search Ottawa Apartment Rentals by Google Maps
• Getting Started
• Ottawa rental Housing types
• Before Meeting Prospective Landlords
• The Credit Check
• Meeting the Landlord
• Shared Accommodation

Ottawa Living is Ottawa's premier online resource for everything about your home. We provide comprehensive Ottawa real estate and rental listings, for home buyers, home owners, and renters. We also have a comprehensive home services directory for your home shopping and renovation needs. Our Ottawa home directory consists of the following categories: apartment rentals, financing, home & garden, home renovation, home services, insurance, lawyers, moving & relocation, and real estate services.

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