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Avoid scams, know your rights and find support

Before you begin your search, make sure you know how to avoid scams, what your rights are and where you can find help.

Rental scams

It is important to be aware of fraudulent rental or sublet offers, typically from an individual posing as the owner/landlord or a tenant subletting a room—especially offers on non-UBC websites or apps, such as Facebook, Craigslist, Whatsapp, WeChat, Discord, etc.

Red flags:

  • the price seems too good to be true
  • they request advance payment (before you’re able to see the property)
  • they request a cash-only payment
  • they request a cash security deposit or wire transfer

Before you begin, know how to avoid scams.

Knowing your rights as a tenant and finding support

Make sure you know your rights. Review information on renting in Canada, tenancy agreements, tenants’ rights, and dealing with landlords.

Rights and advocacy support:

General information:

Finding a place

Finding a place to rent in Vancouver can feel like a big challenge, so we’ve put together this guide to help you start your search armed with the knowledge you need to find a great place to live, avoid scams, know your rights and more.

Find a place online

Here are some websites and apps to help you find a place to rent.

These sites/groups are provided as a resource to students. UBC does not endorse them or their rental listings.

Short-term accommodation

A few options for while you search for a place or if you need short-term accommodation between tenancy agreements.

Key considerations

When looking for a place to live, think about what is most important to you. Transit routes, neighbourhood cultures and living costs are important factors when looking for housing.

Transportation

Most UBC students who live off campus take transit, bike or walk every day. UBC is served by numerous bus routes with connections to destinations throughout Metro Vancouver. All full-time students receive a U-Pass that provides unlimited travel on bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus.

  • Is where you live walking distance to regular transit? Living far away from the bus stop can add many minutes to your commute.
  • Will you need to take more than one bus? Bus transferring adds time to your commute and can be frustrating if you miss a connection.
  • How frequent and busy are the buses? Buses close to campus are usually very full and sometimes too full to stop for more passengers.
  • Is cheaper rent worth a longer commute? Try picturing yourself after a long, exhausting day.
  • Do you mind biking or walking to campus or other places around Vancouver during inclement weather?
  • Is it worth more expensive rent to live within minutes of all the amenities?

Noise and neighbourhood dynamic

No one deserves to have an uncomfortable living situation.

  • Is your neighbourhood safe?
  • Are you okay with noise from other students, young families with children or busy traffic?
  • Do you think your new neighbours will be okay with noise coming from your place?

Access to food

Something you will need to think about almost every day.

  • Do you prefer cooking or eating out?
  • Is there a grocery store within walking distance?

Utilities

Heat, Internet, and cable.

  • Can you control your own thermostat?
  • Does Internet quality matter to you?

Laundry

How will you wash your clothes and how often?

  • Most apartment buildings have shared laundry rooms with coin-operated machines.
  • Basement suites and houses may or may not have a washer/dryer.
  • Where is the closest laundromat?

Furnished or unfurnished?

  • How much furniture will you need?
  • How will you get new furniture into the place? Do you need a truck rental?
  • Furnished apartments often make sense for students looking for short-term housing.

Bed bugs

Older buildings can often have bed bugs. Check to see if there are bed bugs in your neighbourhood of interest by reviewing the bed bug registry map.

Subletting

If you think you might need to sublet, perhaps while you’re on a co-op term or returning home for the summer, discuss it with your landlord.

Housing styles

There are many housing types to choose from. Read through the differences to see what works best for you.

Basement suites

Also known as garden or ground-level suites.

  • Often located in quieter neighbourhoods
  • Offer more privacy than apartments
  • Generally less expensive than comparable above-ground and garden-level apartments.
  • Can provide less natural light sources than alternative housing styles

Apartments

Low-rise buildings (2–5 stories) and high-rise towers (many stories).

  • Usually closer to amenities
  • Easier to maintain than a house—smaller and no yard work!
  • Heat and hot water are often included in the rent
  • Beware of older apartment buildings with potential insects (i.e., bed bugs) and mould

Houses

Can be shared among several roommates.

  • Is there a yard? If so, who is responsible for upkeep?
  • Do you need parking?
  • Leasing a full house or separate unit within a house is different than renting a room

Costs

Rents vary greatly depending on apartment location, age and condition. For example:

  • It is generally more expensive to rent in a condominium (condo) building than an apartment building.
  • Locations close to UBC are typically more expensive than elsewhere in Greater Vancouver.

Rent reports

Although the current average asking price for rental housing is challenging to determine, several rental listing websites offer rent reports for the Vancouver market based on active listings on their websites.

Find average rents, drawn from these reports below.

Average rent: Vancouver

June 2024

Rates are for:

  • Unfurnished units
  • Entire unit, not per room/person
Unit type Liv.rent average rent Rentals.ca average rent Zumper.com average rent
Studio/bachelor Not provided $2,317 $2,218
One bedroom $2,587 $2,684 $2,635
Two bedroom $3,387 $3,729 $4,065
Three bedroom $3,806 Not provided  $5,487
CMHC rental data

The Canadian Mortage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), Canada’s national housing agency, also publishes rental averages drawn from official rental market survey data.

This data represents lower rental averages than those reported above, since it includes rental rates for current renters, including long-term renters in rent-stabilized units, rather than current market asking prices.

Additional costs

Additional costs of renting an apartment can include:

  • Utilities (e.g., heat, water, electricity)
  • Internet
  • Cable TV
  • Security deposit (one-time cost)
  • Pet deposit (one-time cost)
  • Apartment furnishings
  • Laundry
  • Parking
  • Renter’s insurance

After you find a place

Inspection

Make sure that you’re getting all you were promised. Before signing a tenancy agreement, inspect the unit (or have someone you trust inspect it for you).

  • Do the appliances work? Check inside the fridge and turn on the stove.
  • How loud is traffic noise when the windows are open?
  • Are there locks on all doors?
  • Do the shower and taps work? Turn each one on.
  • Do the walls require new paint? If so, ask the landlord to paint before you move in.
  • Is the carpet clean? Ask the landlord if the carpet will be cleaned before you move in.
  • What does the rent include?
  • Will you have to pay extra for heat, electricity, cable, laundry facilities, storage, or parking?
  • Is smoking allowed?
  • Is the place pet-friendly?
  • Can you paint the walls?
  • Are you allowed to hang things on the walls?

Water damage (yellow stains on the walls and ceiling), mouse droppings, bed bugs and cockroaches are very bad signs. Avoid renting suites that have these problems. Be sure to alert your landlord to these issues if they come up after you move in.

Deposit and documentation

  • Get details of your tenancy agreement—also known as a lease or rental agreement—in writing.
  • Take photos to document any existing damage or repairs needed before you move in. If the landlord says something will be repaired or cleaned before you move in, write this down in the agreement.
  • Make sure both you and your landlord have a copy of all the agreements you have signed. If you make any changes to the documents, both you and your landlord should initial next to each change.
  • Prove that you paid. Pay by cheque or money order, or get a receipt if you pay in cash.
  • A tenancy agreement should always outline the terms, conditions and duration of the rental agreement. It is important to review all 3 before signing.
  • Tenancy agreements are typically one year or two years. Some short-term tenancy agreements are usually three-month or six-month terms. Typically, when a fixed-term tenancy agreement in BC ends, it gets automatically turned into a month-to-month tenancy agreement that has no end date.

Get renter’s insurance

It’s strongly advised that you carry renter’s insurance to cover your liability for loss or damage to your belongings against theft, fire and other damage.

How do I get renter’s insurance?

You may choose to insure your belongings with any private insurance company. Here are several local insurance providers you might consider:

Plus, visit the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia for more information and resources regarding renter’s and general insurance and to find additional insurance brokers.

Please note that UBC does not endorse or verify the qualifications of any insurance providers or their products. Renter’s insurance is a personal matter for students, and UBC does not involve itself in these decisions.

Set up utilities

Most tenants need to contact BC Hydro to set up electricity and a communications company for TV, phone, and Internet service.

Furnishings

Most apartments are unfurnished, so you’ll need a bed, desk, sofa, kitchen table, and chairs. Try the following places for good deals:

Online

Off-campus

Neighbourhoods guide

Neighbourhood cultures, living costs and transit routes are important factors when looking for housing. Explore the neighbourhood descriptions below to see what works for you.

University Village

University Village is on-campus and consists of primarily one and two-bedroom apartments and townhomes. Many stores, restaurants and park spaces are within two minutes. Given the close location, rent is relatively more expensive than off-campus.

Wesbrook Village

Wesbrook Village is biking or walking distance from the centre of campus and serviced by many bus routes. There’s a large grocery store, retailers, restaurants and other shops within the village itself. Most apartments here are small and tend to be relatively more expensive because they are quite new and close to campus.

Point Grey

Point Grey is the closest neighborhood to UBC—about 5-10 minutes by bus. There are plenty of restaurants and stores in the neighbourhood as well as a major grocery store. Buses run early in the morning and late at night to UBC and other neighbourhoods, including downtown Vancouver. Point Grey is near Vancouver’s iconic Spanish Banks Beach. There are many housing types available including basement suites, apartments, laneway houses and whole houses for groups of roommates. Point Grey is one of Vancouver’s most expensive neighbourhoods. If you choose to live in this neighbourhood, consider biking to campus as buses are often full.

Kitsilano

“Kits” is one Vancouver’s most trendy neighbourhoods. There are many grocery stores in the area, restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife. During warmer months, Kitsilano Beach and Jerico Beach are popular with residents and tourists. Kitsilano is highly desirable, which means finding housing can be difficult and rent is high. Bus service starts early and ends late. An average trip to UBC is about 20 minutes.

Dunbar Southlands

Groups of roommates often find Dunbar is a good option. Rent for an entire home here tends to be more affordable for students. There are several grocery stores and a trendy commercial area with retail shops and restaurants. Dunbar is quiet and more spread out than Kitsilano, which means housing is sometimes further from a major bus route. Buses to Dunar do not usually run late at night.

Arbutus Ridge and Kerrisdale

These neighbourhoods are served by several bus routes and are closer to downtown Vancouver than Dunbar. There are many single family homes, restaurants, and grocery stores. Transit is less frequent here because it is a family-oriented area of Vancouver where most people drive vehicles. Kerrisdale is a slightly longer commute by transit to UBC than Arbutus Ridge.

West End and Downtown Vancouver

This is the core of Vancouver—home to vibrant beaches, trails in Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park, restaurants, nightlife and diverse lifestyles. Neighbourhoods include Yaletown, Gastown, and The West End. An average trip to UBC by bus is 30-45 minutes. Downtown rent is expensive and living spaces can be small.

East Vancouver

East Vancouver is a popular choice for students because of its unique, affordable neighborhoods: Chinatown, Main Street, Commercial Drive and Mount Pleasant. “East Van” is usually less expensive than neighbourhoods closer to UBC. The commute by bus can average 45-60 minutes and are very busy morning, afternoon, and night.

Vancouver suburbs

There are many affordable cities surrounding Vancouver, including Burnaby, Richmond and New Westminster. Many UBC students who have families in these areas commute to UBC to save money. By car or transit, the trip can take an hour or longer.