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For many newcomers to Canada, the prospect of sharing a house is exciting. Having roommates can make renting in Canada more affordable, rental terms are often more flexible, and it comes with a built in social network. But there are hurdles to overcome. The internet is fraught with fraud and scams, plus how do you know that you’ll like the people you live with?

Moving2Canada is excited to partner with Sparrow to help match newcomers to Canada looking for a shared home with people looking to fill spare rooms in their homes. Sparrow offers a trustworthy, flexible platform for people looking to share a home in Canada — which is why it’s rated 4.7 on Trustpilot

In our experience

I was surprised to learn that in Canada, roommates are people who share a home – even if they don’t share a bedroom. We call them housemates in Australia, whereas a roommate is someone who you share an actual bedroom with. This isn’t the case in Canada. Roommates = housemates. So it’s important to clarify what the sharing situation looks like, if that’s important to you. 

Stephanie Ford profile picture

Stephanie Ford

Writer at Moving2Canada

A Recap: Summarizing The Benefits of Sharing a Home in Canada

House sharing offers a range of practical and social benefits, especially for newcomers to Canada looking to settle in, socialize, and manage living expenses:

  1. Reduced Living Costs: Sharing rent, utilities, and household expenses with roommates can significantly lower monthly expenses, which is especially helpful in high-rent areas or when managing a tight budget. This arrangement allows newcomers to allocate more funds toward other essentials, savings, or leisure.
  2. Flexible Rental Terms: House sharing often involves shorter lease terms or sublets, which can provide flexibility. Newcomers may appreciate this if they are still exploring neighbourhoods or deciding on a long-term housing plan in Canada.
  3. Built-In Social Network: Moving to a new country can feel isolating, and living with others can provide an immediate sense of community and social interaction. Roommates can offer advice on adjusting to life in Canada and may introduce newcomers to local activities or support networks.
  4. Shared Responsibilities: Many household chores, such as cleaning, grocery shopping, or maintenance, are divided among housemates, lightening the load on any one person. This arrangement can also be a chance to learn new skills and routines from others, which can be particularly valuable when adapting to a new living environment.
  5. Access Better Locations: By splitting costs, house sharing may make it possible to afford living in a more central or desirable area closer to public transportation, jobs, or schools—helpful for those still getting acquainted with the layout of Canadian cities.

About Sparrow

With rent prices at an all-time high and people being especially vulnerable to rental scams, Sparrow helps pair newcomers with verified, compatible, and trusted homeshare hosts for flexible and affordable housing options. Sparrow offers dedicated tools and its team helps to ensure your homesharing experience is safe, affordable, and comfortable. 

Sparrow uses an advanced matching algorithm that considers lifestyle preferences, daily habits, and housing needs to find the perfect match between newcomers and hosts.

Sparrow also offers:

  • Rent Payment Reporting
    Sparrow helps newcomers build credit by reporting rent payments, promoting on-time payments and offering peace of mind for homeowners.
  • Customized Homeshare Agreements
    Sparrow’s customer success team aids in creating personalized homeshare agreements, clarifying expectations and responsibilities for all parties.
  • Secure Rental Payments
    Sparrow ensures secure, confidential payment processing, letting newcomers manage rent safely.
  • Concierge Support
    Sparrow’s support team offers responsive assistance to newcomers and homeowners throughout their homesharing experience.

About the author

Stephanie Ford profile picture

Stephanie Ford

She/Her
Finance, Law and Immigration Writer
Stephanie is a content creator who writes on legal and personal finance topics, specializing in immigration and legal topics. She earned a Bachelor of Laws and a Diploma in Financial Planning in Australia. Stephanie is now a permanent resident of Canada and a full-time writer at Moving2Canada.
Read more about Stephanie Ford
Citation "How To Share Accommodation in Canada As A Newcomer." Moving2Canada. . Copy for Citation

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