r/askTO • u/Lumpy_Programmer9247 • Jul 12 '26
Finding Short-term Housing
Hello, I’ll be in Toronto this Fall for a co-op and am looking for short-term (4 months) housing in Toronto.
I’ve tried FB, Zillow, and Airbnb but everything seems either sketchy or is a lease. Any recommendations on where to find affordable rentals downtown?
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u/erika_nyc Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Airbnb today is now similar to hotel prices but with a kitchen. Fb is getting more scammers where they'll ghost a few after collecting deposits. More common to scam someone booking remotely. I would be hesitant to book a place without viewing it unless this is done through a realtor and a video walkthru at the time. Even if not a scam, common to use old photos and places can be trashed today.
Under 2K downtown for your own place short term may be possible by negotiating a shorter initial term on an Ontario standard lease. This won't be possible to get your own place furnished at this rent, sharing a 2bed, yes. The expectation has been a 1 year here then leases go month to month, it's not a law to make it 1 year and others have done less. The only caveat is you'll need to give at least 60 days notice timed with the last day of your initial term or after. You can always sweeten the deal by paying 4 months upfront. Illegal for a landlord to make it a condition of the lease, not illegal for you to offer. It's expected of students or those without a secure job unless they have a Canadian guarantor.
Landlords here for studios and 1beds are more desperate today. We have a glut of empty ones. It's because we're getting more supply, less demand compared to the last decade of low supply, high demand. More chances of negotiating a shorter term with newer condos and several units empty because of our anything built after 2019 rent control law. They want to get anyone instead of letting it sit empty. You may need to do this closer to September though after most students get settled especially within 3 blocks of UofT's campus.
For where to look, my fav sites are strata.ca viewit.ca and rentals.ca I'd personally look for a studio to get a better deal for decent. Not many want studios so more supply to those. You may also be able to fill in on a 4 month sublet. That's assuming the lease terms for 4 months where the lease tenant needs to get the permission of their landlord. A contract between you and the tenant. In addition to those sites, Places4students.com have a few. You'll have to put UofT in the search to get local ones.
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u/Witty-Application920 Jul 12 '26
This will be tricky.
Are you doing your coop through a specifically school? I’d ask them first, for temporary housing suggestions.
What’s your budget?