Why is it so Hard to Immigrate to Canada? Part 4

Why is it so hard to immigrate to Canada?

Possibility #4:

It can be tough to find a home or good accommodations in Canada.

While waiting for citizenship or at least permanent residency, many immigrants might be hesitant to commit a large sum of money to buying a home or condo. What if they do not get residency and have to leave? It can hard to sell a house in a hurry in some markets and months, let alone from abroad.

Furthermore, immigration is a costly process that can be tough on the ol’ savings account. Buying property requires a down payment, and that’s money that many new immigrants might not have saved up immediately upon their arrival. After all, many of them are coming to Canada to obtain better jobs so the employment they had in their home country might not have been well-paying.

So, many immigrants end up renting. However, it can be tough to figure out whether or not an apartment is located in a ‘good’ neighborhood when you have no prior knowledge of the city. Cost is also a factor. Additionally, it can be hard to tell what condition and apartment is really in if you are browsing for accommodations online from your country of origin. For these reasons, many immigrants end up living in less than favorable conditions when they first arrive in Canada.


Possible solutions:

Some city police departments provide online resources like Edmonton’s crime map, which can give you a feel for how safe a neighborhood is based on the type of crimes being committed there.
http://crimemapping.edmontonpolice.ca/

Ask for references from prospective landlords and investigate property management companies before you commit to a deposit.
If your written language skills are not the best, have a translator or lawyer look over your rental agreement before you sign it. Warning: this will cost money.
Be aware of each province’s landlord and tenant laws. When you are in Canada, you are protected by the same laws as Canadians. You don’t have to suffer at the hands of a bad landlord any more than any Canadian citizen does. Learn your rights!

If you are younger, you might even want to delay apartment-hunting until after you have arrived in Canada. I met a number of new immigrants and international students in a Montreal HI-Hostel who were staying there until they found more permanent accommodations. Hostels may not be the best solution for everyone but they do offer cheap accommodations and often have kitchens you can use to cook your own meals. Furthermore, there are hostels in most major Canadian centers.
http://www.hihostels.ca/