Living in Canada · Students
Renting safely: student housing and the scams to dodge
The short answer
Student housing scams in Canada follow one pattern: a listing priced below market, a landlord who can't show the unit, and a demand to e-transfer a deposit before you've viewed it or signed a lease. The rule that protects you is simple: never send money before an in-person or live-video viewing and a written lease. Verify the landlord, pay by a traceable method, and know your province's deposit limits.
On this page
Newcomer students are a favourite target. The Better Business Bureau and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre both flag recent immigrants as far likelier to lose money to a rental scam. The mechanics are always similar, and one habit defeats almost all of them: see it, sign it, then pay.
Where to look safely
Start with platforms that verify listings or put a real, accountable person behind them. Treat everything else as unverified until you’ve viewed the unit.
- Your school's housing office / student residenceTrusted
- Realtor.ca and licensed property managersTrusted
- Rentals.ca, PadMapper, Places4StudentsTrusted
- Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, WhatsApp groupsRisky
- A 'landlord' who refuses any viewing or video callWalk away
The common scams
Five scripts cover almost every student rental fraud in Canada. Each one has a tell, and a counter-move that costs you nothing.
One rule stops almost every rental scam
Never send money, whether a deposit, a first month or a “holding fee”, before two things are true: you (or someone you trust) have viewed the unit, and you have a signed written lease. Once you e-transfer a scammer, the money is usually gone for good. There is no legitimate reason a landlord needs your deposit before you’ve seen the place.
Deposit before viewing. “It’s in high demand, so send one month’s deposit to hold it and it’s yours.” The giveaway is that money is demanded before anyone you trust has stood inside the unit. No viewing, no money: go in person, send a trusted friend, or do a live video call.
The overseas owner. “I’ve moved abroad for work, so I can’t show it, but I’ll courier the keys once you e-transfer the deposit.” The owner is conveniently unreachable in person and the keys arrive by mail. A real landlord or their agent shows the unit, keys never come by courier, and you can always ask for proof of ownership.
The price that’s too good. A bright downtown unit with polished photos, priced hundreds below every comparable listing. Check what similar units in the area actually cost, and reverse-image-search the photos before you reply, because the same pictures usually turn up on other listings.
Untraceable payment only. “Secure it today. Send the deposit by Interac e-transfer, wire, or gift cards.” Only fast, untraceable methods are accepted, and the request arrives wrapped in urgency. Pay only after a signed lease, use a traceable method, and never pay by gift card or cryptocurrency.
No lease, just cash. “We don’t bother with paperwork, just pay cash and move in.” No written lease, no receipts, nothing in your name. Insist on a written lease and a receipt for every payment. In Ontario, most private landlords are legally required to use the government’s standard lease.
What a real rental looks like
A genuine landlord welcomes the checks a scammer avoids. Line the two up and the difference is obvious.
A real rental
- Shows the unit in person, or on a live video call on request
- Priced in line with comparable units nearby
- Gives you a written lease to read before any money
- Accepts a traceable payment and issues a receipt
- Can prove they own or manage the property
A scam listing
- 'Overseas' or 'too busy' to ever show it
- Priced well below the market to hook you fast
- Wants a deposit before a viewing or a lease
- Demands e-transfer, wire, gift cards, or crypto
- Photos that reverse-search to other listings
Before you pay
Run this checklist before a single dollar leaves your account. Every item is something a scammer cannot survive.
View the unit in person, through a trusted friend, or on a live video call
Confirm the landlord owns or manages the property
Read and sign a written lease before any money
Pay by a traceable method and get a receipt
Do a move-in inspection and photograph everything
Your rights in brief
Deposit rules are set by each province, not by the landlord, and they differ, so verify yours with the provincial tenancy authority before you pay. Ontario is the strictest example.
By the numbers
Other provinces work differently. British Columbia and Alberta, for instance, do allow a separate security or damage deposit, usually capped at part of a month’s rent. Never assume Ontario’s rules apply where you’re moving. Look up your province or territory’s tenancy office, and get every term in the written lease before you hand over money.
What to do next
- Packing for Canada from India: what to bring for your first weeks, and what to buy after you land.
- Planning your studies in Canada? See how we handle study permits end to end.
- Talk to our team if a listing or landlord doesn’t feel right before you pay.
Common questions
How do I avoid student housing scams in Canada?
Never send money before you've viewed the unit and signed a written lease. See the place in person, or have someone you trust view it, or do a live video call where the landlord shows the rooms and runs a tap. Confirm the landlord owns the unit, pay by a traceable method, and get a receipt. A listing priced far below market with a landlord who's 'overseas' is the classic scam.
Can a landlord ask for a deposit before I see the apartment?
A real landlord shows the unit before taking money. A demand to e-transfer a deposit to 'hold' a place you haven't viewed is the single most common rental scam in Canada. If you can't visit in person, ask a trusted friend to go, or do a live video call. Never pay a deposit on a place no one you trust has stood inside.
Is it safe to rent on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji in Canada?
Real listings and scams sit side by side on Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, so treat every listing there as unverified until you've viewed the unit and met the landlord. Verified platforms such as Realtor.ca, provincial rental sites and your school's housing office carry less risk. Whatever the platform, the rule is the same: view first, sign a lease, then pay.
How much deposit can a landlord charge in Ontario?
In Ontario a landlord can collect a rent deposit no larger than one month's rent, and it can only be applied to your last month, not to damage or cleaning. Separate 'security' or 'damage' deposits are not legal in Ontario. The landlord must pay you interest on the deposit each year. Rules differ by province, so verify yours with the provincial tenancy authority before paying.
What should I do if I've been scammed on a rental in Canada?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501, and to your local police. If you paid by Interac e-transfer or card, contact your bank immediately to try to stop or reverse it. Keep every message, ad screenshot, and receipt. Reporting helps investigators even when the money can't be recovered.
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