• Is it within walking distance to a bus stop/sky train station/transportation hub?
• Will you need to make connections?
• How frequent is transportation?
• Is cheaper rent worth a longer commute?

• Is it safe?
• Are you okay with the noise levels?
• Do you think that your neighbours will be ok with the noise from your place? For example, if you are a young single person who enjoys having friends over, will this cause a conflict with your neighbours?
• Are there good schools/preschools/child care in the area?
• Are there adequate amenities in the area (Friendship Centre, community centre, public parks, etc.)

• Are these included in the cost of rent?
• Can you control heat levels in your suite?

• Do you need furniture?
• Can you bring furniture you already have? How much will it cost to move?
• How long will you be staying? If you are only planning on being in the area for a short time, it may make sense financially to rent a furnished apartment.

• Typically the most affordable option
• Can be noisy, depending on who lives upstairs
• May have low levels of light
• May be below ground, cold, or damp
• May be cramped, unfinished, or have low ceilings

• Is there a yard?
• Who is responsible for upkeep?
• Is parking available?
• For shared housing, what are the other tenants like?
• How does the price compare with other units of the same size?

• Is street parking available?
• Is there a safe place to park your car?
• How long will your commute take?
• What are traffic patterns like when you need to get to class? Is traffic jammed because of rush hour? Or is your class at an off-peak time?

• Are there affordable, healthy grocery options located nearby?
• Do you need access to a vehicle or transit to buy groceries?
• Are there affordable places to buy prepared food if you don’t have time to cook?

• Is there laundry? Older houses and apartments may not have laundry facilities, meaning you will have to go to a laundromat to do your washing.
• Is laundry shared, or do you have access to your own machines?
• How much does it cost? How does this cost compare with going to the laundromat?

There are wide variances in rental costs, depending on the neighbourhood you live in, as well as the size and condition of the housing. Cities, in particular Vancouver and Victoria, can be very expensive. Some factors to consider for different types of housing:

• Is street parking available?
• Is there a safe place to park your car?
• How long will your commute take?
• What are traffic patterns like when you need to get to class? Is traffic jammed because of rush hour? Or is your class at an off-peak time?

• Wide range in price – apartments tend to be least expensive, condominiums rented out by the owner tend to be more expensive.
• Noise can come from above or below
• May have occupant restrictions, for example, age
• May prohibit pets
• Earthquake safety
• Bedbugs
• Insects, rodents, and mould