Finding accommodation in Canada was one of the first things I needed to sort out after moving. For me, my Airbnb was never meant to be permanent.
I had booked it so I would have somewhere to go immediately after leaving Toronto Pearson Airport. I stayed there for approximately two days.
By then, I had already found the place I would move into.
I found it online through Kijiji.
Thankfully, the arrangement worked out for me, and my landlord was nice.
Looking back, having my next accommodation sorted quite quickly made those first few days in Canada easier because I was not sitting in temporary accommodation wondering where I would live next.
I Used an Airbnb First
When I arrived in Canada, I went straight from Pearson Airport to the Airbnb I had booked online.
That gave me a temporary place to sleep while I settled down.
I was tired, hungry and still trying to understand my new surroundings, so having somewhere already arranged for those first nights was important.
But because I only stayed there for about two days, I also needed to know what came next.
That was where Kijiji came in.
Finding Accommodation in Canada Through Kijiji
I searched online for accommodation in Canada and found my first place through Kijiji.
For anyone unfamiliar with it, Kijiji is an online classifieds platform in Canada where people advertise different things, including rental properties.
Finding a Place Quickly Gave Me One Less Thing to Worry About
Those first few days already involved enough new things.
I was learning transportation.
I was buying groceries.
I was trying to understand Canadian money without automatically converting everything to naira.
I was getting used to the cold.
I was sorting out practical things like banking.
So knowing that I had somewhere to move into gave me one less major problem to solve.
Once my short Airbnb stay was over, I could move into a place where I could begin settling properly.
That felt different from staying somewhere temporarily.
It started to feel more like I actually lived in Canada.
Kijiji Worked for Me, but I Would Still Be Careful
This is where I want to separate my experience from advice.
I found my accommodation through Kijiji.
It worked for me.
That does not mean every rental advertisement on Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace or any other website is genuine.
The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre warns that scammers can post fake rental advertisements using stolen photos, attractive locations or unusually low prices, then pressure people to send money quickly to secure a property. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
That matters especially for newcomers.
When you are still outside Canada or have just arrived, you may be under pressure because you need somewhere to live quickly.
That urgency can make a good looking advertisement very tempting.
I would not let the excitement of finding a place stop me from asking questions.
Be Careful When Someone Is Rushing You to Pay
One warning sign I would pay attention to today is pressure.
“You need to send the money now.”
“Someone else is about to take it.”
“Pay today or you will lose the apartment.”
Sometimes a legitimate rental can move quickly, especially in a competitive market.
But pressure should not stop you from checking what you are paying for.
The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre advises people to slow down when they are being pressured and to verify unexpected requests before sending money or sensitive information. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
If something feels wrong, I would rather lose one listing than lose my money.
Do Not Let Nice Photos Do All the Convincing
Beautiful pictures are easy to fall for when you are searching online.
- A clean kitchen.
- Nice bedroom.
- Good location.
- Affordable price.
Perfect.
But photos alone do not prove that the person advertising the property actually has the right to rent it.
Fake rental advertisements can use stolen photos. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
So I would want more than pictures before becoming comfortable with a rental.
Ask questions.
Check the address.
Understand who you are dealing with.
If you can view the property or have someone trustworthy help you verify it, that can give you more information than simply looking at an advertisement.
Know What You Actually Need Before Searching
Another thing I would suggest is deciding what matters to you before opening rental websites.
For example:
How far are you willing to travel?
Do you need somewhere close to school or work?
Are you comfortable sharing accommodation?
What can you realistically afford?
Is public transportation nearby?
What is included with the rent?
You do not need a perfect answer for every question.
But having some idea of what you need makes searching easier.
Otherwise, every listing starts looking possible.
Location Matters More Than I Realized at First
When you are new to Canada, an address may not mean much to you.
You see a street name and a city.
Okay.
But where is that compared with where you need to go?
How will you get around?
Is there a bus nearby?
Where do you buy groceries?
Those questions become much more important once you are actually living there.
I learned very quickly that transportation was one of the things I had to understand as a newcomer.
So today, if I were searching for accommodation again, I would not look only at the room or apartment.
I would look at the area around it too.
Your First Accommodation Does Not Have to Be Your Forever Home
There can be pressure to make every decision perfectly when you first arrive.
I do not think that is necessary.
Your first place in Canada is your first place.
It does not have to solve every housing need you will ever have.
You are still learning the country.
You are learning where things are.
Your circumstances may change.
What matters at the beginning is finding something that works for your actual situation and doing your checks carefully before committing.
What I Would Check Before Agreeing to an Online Rental
If I were searching for my first accommodation in Canada again, I would want clear answers to a few things before paying.
Is the property real?
I would verify the address and not rely only on photos.
Who am I dealing with?
I would want to understand who the person advertising the property is.
What exactly am I renting?
A full apartment, room or shared space can mean very different living arrangements.
What am I expected to pay?
I would want the costs explained clearly rather than discovering unexpected charges afterward.
When can I move in?
This matters if you are paying for temporary accommodation while waiting.
How will I get around?
I would check transportation and the distance to the places I expect to use regularly.
These sound like basic questions, but when you are excited about finding somewhere, basic questions are sometimes the easiest ones to forget.
Questions Newcomers Ask About Finding Accommodation in Canada
How did I find my first accommodation in Canada?
I found it online through Kijiji.
Did I stay in a hotel before moving in?
I stayed in an Airbnb for approximately two days after arriving in Canada and then moved into the accommodation I had found.
Was my landlord difficult?
No. My own experience with my landlord was positive.
Is Kijiji safe for finding rentals in Canada?
I successfully found my first accommodation there, but no online platform should be treated as automatically risk free. Rental scams exist, so listings and payment requests should be checked carefully. The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre specifically warns about fake rental ads designed to collect quick payments from prospective tenants. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Should a newcomer send money before seeing a rental?
I would be very cautious about sending money for a place that I had not properly verified. Being desperate for accommodation can make people easier targets for rental scams.
What else should I check when looking for accommodation?
I would look beyond the room itself and consider location, transportation, nearby shops, how long the commute may be and whether the place suits what I actually need.
What I Learned From Finding My First Place in Canada
Finding accommodation was one of the first signs that my life in Canada was becoming real.
The Airbnb was temporary.
The new place was somewhere I could begin settling.
I was fortunate that the accommodation I found through Kijiji worked out and that my landlord was nice.
But my good experience does not mean I would tell another newcomer to click the first attractive rental advertisement and send money.
- Search.
- Ask questions.
- Verify what you can.
Pay attention to the location, not just the room.
And do not let the pressure of needing somewhere to live make you ignore something that does not feel right.
Finding a first home in a new country can already feel overwhelming.
You do not need the place to be perfect.
You just need to be careful about how you find it.
Current rental fraud guidance checked: October 2026.
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