Accommodation for Newcomers in Halifax
Immigration Accommodation in Halifax
As a new immigrant arriving in Halifax one of the first tasks is to find short term and long-term accommodation in Halifax for you and your family.
Your first accommodation on arriving in Halifax may be temporary. This is ok, and is the route that most new migration arrivals in Halifax take. Some individuals opt of a good hostel or Serviced Accommodation in Halifax, while some are lucky enough to be able to stay with family or friends in the area. Most new arrivals take a short-term rental while they look for something long term. As with any city, it’s always easier to find someplace new to live once you are already there and Halifax is no different.
Accommodation for newcomers in Halifax guide
You’ve been through the stress and emotional roller coaster involved with securing a visa for Canada and you’ve chosen Halifax as your destination. It’s a charming place with plenty or heritage. Halifax is well known to be extremely welcoming to new migrants.
Here is some background on Halifax for new immigration arrivals.
Halifax, officially known as the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), is the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. It had a population of 403,131 in 2016, with 316,701 in the urban area centred on Halifax Harbour. The regional municipality consists of four former municipalities that were amalgamated in 1996: Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and Halifax County.
Halifax is a major economic centre in Atlantic Canada, with a large concentration of government services and private sector companies. Major employers and economic generators include the Department of National Defence, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, the Halifax Shipyard, various levels of government, and the Port of Halifax. Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry and natural gas extraction are major resource industries found in the rural areas of the municipality.
Finding Immigration Accommodation for Newcomers in Halifax
Most searches begin with a search engine. Local papers in Halifax may well be online and of course, listing sites such as Craigslist and Rentfaster Halifax can be of great help.
What is the cost of short term accommodation in Halifax
The cost of short-term newcomer accommodation in Halifax varies greatly depending on requirements and neighborhoods. Lots of new arrivals to Halifax use Airbnb to give them an indication of short term rental process in Halifax and also the option to book with confidence and security.
Another website that offers the same accommodation as Airbnb but at less cost is Book Direct and Save
Rental accommodation in Halifax for newcomers
One you decide to rent an apartment or house there are certain things specific to Canada to keep in mind. For example, make sure to agree who pays for utilities, and who is responsible for removing snow!
Property owners and landlords will usually require payslips or proof of income, bank statements and occasionally they may require references from previous landlords although lots of new immigrants to Halifax were homeowners in their previous country. Sometimes it does help to already have secured employment in the greater Halifax area.
All renters in Halifax have rights, so you need to familiarize yourself with those rights before you sign any agreement. Thankfully there are a number of Organizations set up in Halifax to help. These are called Newcomer services and a list of these can be found here: newcomer service
Newcomer subletting in Halifax
Sometimes when a renter leaves for a few months they will sublet their accommodation. Quite often they leave some furnishings behind and for some newcomers to Halifax this can be an ideal option, especially if you’ve yet to buy furniture or if your shipment is delayed.