Apartments for Rent in Gatineau

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A Renters' Guide to Living in Gatineau - Hull

Are you moving to the National Capital Region for work or studies? If you’re looking for accommodation to rent, you owe it to yourself to check Gatineau out – with its proximity to Ottawa, Gatineau and Hull offer significant advantages!

While Ottawa is in the province of Ontario, Gatineau lies just across the Ottawa River but is in the province of Quebec. Whether to rent accommodation in Gatineau or Ottawa is a question many new tenants ask themselves when moving to the Capital, but it’s possible to have the best of both worlds, as CBC puts it.

Which province you live in is important, since it will determine how taxes, healthcare, education, driving licences, and much more are governed. Municipal services are also regulated differently in Ottawa and Gatineau, everything from waste disposal to city services.

Renting in Gatineau:

Renting in Gatineau is perfect for families, who can take advantage of Quebec’s very affordable daycare service. Tenants also enjoy more affordable rental accommodation and cheaper electricity with Hydro-Québec.

Ottawa has the reputation of having a more dynamic nightlife and a strong economy for employment, and while Quebecers do tend to pay more income tax, Gatineau residents thrive in a largely francophone culture that’s quite distinctive.

Gatineau feels like a “small big city”. It’s close to the popular Gatineau Park, perfect for winter and summer sports, and is within easy reach of Ottawa for work.

Public transportation in Gatineau

If you live in Gatineau, there’s a good chance you travel to Ottawa frequently. In Gatineau, public transport is operated by the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), the local bus network, while in Ottawa, it’s OC Transport, though the two networks collaborate together.

To get from your rental apartment to your work or campus, you can take the frequent Rapibus, with its reserved lanes. Check out the routes or look up the stations closest to you. If you’re part of Communauto, the well-known car-sharing initiative, you’ll find plenty of spots to choose your car from. Many residents also elect to use their bicycle, and biking and tourist maps are readily available.

Choosing your Gatineau rental neighbourhood

Gatineau’s neighbourhoods are mostly all within easy access to Ottawa, if you work or study there, so you can choose your neighbourhood based on the rental options available. Canada’s Mortgage and Housing Corporation displays the types of housing available in Gatineau’s neighbourhoods.

The City of Gatineau is made up of several Outaouais municipalities that were merged together, with Vieux-Hull (Old Hull) at the core. The five boroughs that make up Gatineau are:

Aylmer
Hull
Gatineau
Masson-Angers
Buckingham

You should visit the neighbourhoods to get a feel for them, but look for good public transportation, and relatively easy access to stores and services. When you start visiting areas and apartments, use the ultimate apartment checklist from RentQuebecApartments.com, which will guide you on what to look for not just in your rental accommodation but in the neighbourhood as well.

When you move to Gatineau, look for an area that has good public transportation or road access, a safe area close to amenities like shops and grocery stores. .

Wherever you choose to live, you can sign up for email or sms alerts on services and announcements and keep up to date with what’s happening in your city.

Costs of living for tenants in Gatineau

Gatineau is known for having a lower cost of living than Ottawa, which makes it a welcoming place for families and students. Statistics Canada calculates the average annual cost of feeding a family of four at $7,832 in Ottawa, about $400 more than in Gatineau.

You’ll find rental housing that’s cheaper than in Ottawa, though income taxes are also higher in the province of Quebec than in Ontario. Remember when you’re looking for tenant’s insurance for your rental that you have to call Quebec companies rather than Ontarian ones!

Tenants in Gatineau also have access to the more affordable Quebec car insurance rates and bus passes, as well as cheaper electricity with Hydro-Québec. To keep costs down, many tenants in Gatineau advertise for a roommate to share their rental accommodation.

Rentals often come with utilities included, but you’ll have to check with the landlord when you visit if you have to budget separately for this or not. If the apartment is furnished, take photos of the condition of the furniture when you visit.

The next steps: knowing where to turn

When you move to Gatineau, it’s important to remember that you’re actually living in the province of Quebec, even though you’re part of the National Capital Region.

If you want a good overview, download the City of Gatineau’s Welcome Guide (in French only); the City of Gatineau can help with the basics.

Your landlord will do a credit check and have you sign a standard lease from the Régie du Logement, but you should read it in detailbefore you sign.

Now’s the time to negotiate with your landlord if you can. If you’re not sure where to start, read RentQuebecApartments’ useful guide to negotiation. Remember that landlords can’t ask for rent deposits in Quebec.

If things don’t go smoothly with your landlord, try to resolve the conflict amicably. There’s help if things go south, however. You can always contact the Régie du Logement to find out what your rights are, or check out the programs and publications of the Societé d’habitation du Québec.