Finding the perfect kind of place is hard and I can be your live example for that. I have changed five different accommodations in just two years. Not because I love to pack and unpack again and again and again. No. It's because various different reasons that I am going to share with you in just a moment. I felt frustrated with how many times I had to move while some of my friends were able to live at their places for long-term.
Today, I am going to share the mistakes I made in finding the accommodation in Canada as an International Student. I was specifically in Toronto, ON, so, my experience and some other advices could only be applied for those particular areas. This is solely my experience and my opinion. Let's get started then. Also, I would not be including any real names or addresses.
First House
Your first place is always in some way special to you and no matter how much time passes you will just never forget about it. I still remember clearly how my place looked and what kind of experience I had there.
It was a one bedroom basement in a one-story house which I shared with another girl who went to same college as me and not just that but, also was enrolled in the same program as me. That in some way was a biggest advantage of that place. I lived there for about 6 months until April 2019 and paid $375 per month including the utilities. The house was in North Etobicoke and the owner didn't use to live there. The Upper floor/Ground floor was also rented by some other people I never really got to know.
I had no restrictions and we used to have gender neutral friends over. I could come and go anytime and didn't really had to worry about anything. Then why did I leave? Well, because I freaked out over seeing some cockroaches. I know I know some of you would be saying I did the right thing and some who had such experience in their past would say 'Well that was just some. I should have braved up!' And I couldn't agree more with latter. All I can say that was just the starting! And also because at the time, I didn't really know that house was actually a blessing if only couple of minor issues could have been fixed.
Second House
Only if I had known what I was getting into! This house is deserving of the phrase that goes something like this "How could something be so worse and best at the same time?" This was yet another Basement. It was a one bedroom but since the living space was made as a room, let's say it was two bedroom basement in once again North Etobicoke. I lived there till November 2019 and paid $375 a month including all utilities.
Three girls lived there. I and another girl shared the room (it was big enough to fit the mattresses and still have some walking space left) whereas the third girl (Param) lived in the living-bedroom. The worse thing about the basement was... drum rolls please "Cockroaches". Yup! It had so many cockroaches that it was literally unbearable. They would be crawling all over the place, the kitchen, the cabinets, the bathroom sink and tub, the bedroom walls and celling and even some days they may have slept with us too :/
The landlord who lived upstairs did get the pest done twice as I remember, but they disappeared only for a day or two and then they would be all over again. Pure Torture. That what it felt to me.
The best thing happened there was, I met the most amazing people who are now extremely special to me and are still part of my life. We three are like sisters now (We Indians are always big on making relations or maybe it's just me :p) We three had frequent movie nights where we would order delicious food and just enjoy each other's company. You too will find such people around you and make sure you always keep them. No matter what.
Third House/Apartment
If you want to live in an apartment make sure you have a reliable person to share with you or find an apartment where people are already living. After I had enough of those cockroaches, I leased an apartment with a friend of mine who was with me in third semester and we had quite in common which made me think that I could trust her.
But no, don't make the same mistake to just deciding on taking the entire lease on yourself because the other person is busy and couldn't come to partake in the event. Apparently, they can change their mind on the day it's time to move in.
I lived there alone for one month and I have to give a huge shoutout to my Bff/Brother (Jay) who stayed in the living room because not only was I unfamiliar with the location (South Etobicoke) but also because I had just moved out of the place where I had my favorite people around me most of the time, who I used to eat dinner with, watch movies with , and even go out together. Coming out from that, to completely alone kinda broke me. I cried myself to sleep for straight one week.
But Jay was my biggest motivator and someone who showed up every day to be around for simple excuses as I want to have tea or what's there for dinner. It still brings up a huge smile on my face. That was definitely a dark period in my life. But then I did find a roommate to share the one bedroom apartment. It didn't really workout for both of us so she moved out.
Thankfully, the management was very understanding. I told them about my situation and how I can't bare to pay $1600 bucks every month and then utilities on top of that while I am only a part-time student. So I did my last and then Covid hit Canada.
I was lucky to get out of a brand-new yearly lease, not every management would be easy on you so please make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.
Fourth House
And so I went back to my beloved North Etobicoke. I missed the Indian stores and restaurants there and also my Sikh Temple. Have you heard of a phrase too good to be true? Well, it's most definitely a truth.
This was a house solely rented out to girls. The owner didn't live there. There were three rooms and we had our separate rooms (no more sharing same room-- I was newly turned work permit person which meant able to work full time) My rent was $600 and I had a spacious room with half bathroom attached to it. There was this cute window and I had finally decorated my room with photos, lights, and printed quotes. Remember what I said in the start?
One month passed and then the landlord started to meddle in everything we did. She would call us out of our rooms for "chat" which basically was what all she didn't like in the house. One of the girls there was her "puppet" as I called since she would tattle tale everything to the landlord.
Slowly, the interference and the harsh words of landlord started to get me and the other housemate. We both had to listen to how the landlord could be earning more rent if she hadn't given these to us for such less amount. It became unbearable to live there, even my parent hadn't behaved the way our Ms. Landlord with us. My frustration piled up to the point I found another place and moved right away in the middle of September 2020.
Fifth House
I just can't be grateful enough to have found this place in East York. It was a house with couple of rooms all separately rented to different individuals. Mine was a small room but I had decorated it my way and made it appear cute. I paid $700 per month including all utilities. I met the best kind of people who taught me to be confident, love myself, eat healthier, and become a bit less reserved. It was a six month lease and I was blessed to live there. My landlords were outstanding, very friendly and understanding.
The most beautiful thing about this place was that we all belonged to different countries and yet we found a common ground to share things, have fun, and become this one beautiful family. I miss you guys. For the first time, I celebrated thanksgiving and understood how amazing it was. We cooked and shared meals with each other regular basis.
As bizarre as this is going to sound... I had my first salad at this house and also developed a love for broccoli, learned many astounding recopies, and opened up to them regarding issues in my life. I realize this just as I am writing this blog that this house gave me the push and the start to be who I am becoming. This will forever be my home.
WHAT TO TAKE HOME FROM THIS?
Do your research before getting an apartment with a yearly lease. Make sure whoever you are trusting is someone who you know from either long time or is reliable. I would also suggest that when you go to see a room in a house or apartment, make sure to observe how the landlord behaves. If for any reason you think that person could be a bother to you, don't take the place. Your peace of mind should be your priority and not a spacious room.
You should aim to find a place where you feel like coming back after a long tiring day at work. I would also like to add that not always is it a bad thing to have experience unsuitable times such as I had. If I was given a time machine, I would still do the same thing (Okay, maybe wouldn't take the apartment but everything I would have still done the same way).
Lastly, if you find good people in your journey, hold onto them. They are precious souls and they belong to be part of your life. I hope some of you would be able to relate and some of you would be able to avoid the mistakes I made :)
Sooooo... how many houses did you guys change since coming to Canada? Am I the only one who is crazily moving around? Feel free to share your thoughts and experience!
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