How to Find Housing
When looking for housing, most people go online to find units in their price and suitability range. Some landlords will post “For Rent” signs in windows or on available units, but more and more the search for housing is moving online.
When looking for housing, determine the community and unit you want to live in by assessing your wants and needs as a renter (e.g. affordability, transportation, proximity to work, community culture, childcare, etc.).
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Nova Scotia is currently in a housing crisis. According to the CMHC, as of 2023 the vacancy rate in Nova Scotia is 1.1%, and this figure is even lower in areas like Halifax (1.0%), Cape Breton (0.8%), and for affordable units. It can take months to secure a place to live long-term. Finding housing will depend on factors like household income, size, and transportation needs – but more and more finding a suitable and affordable apartment comes down to luck.
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Rental websites tend to only list apartments from particular landlords or rental agencies, use multiple websites when looking for housing.
Many units aren’t listed on rental websites – try using sites like Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji to find housing or sublets.
Use social media to seek out roommate and co-housing groups if you can’t afford to live alone.
If you belong to a particular group (i.e. recent immigrants, students, etc.) there may be community groups and institutions that can help you find housing. See Advocacy & Organizing for more details.