Rent Quebec City Apartments

A Quick Guide to Renting in Quebec City

Public transportation Quebec City

Renting in Quebec, you’ll find it easy to use public transportation. While there’s no subway (metro), the city does have an extensive network of buses, operated through the RTC (Réseau de transport de la Capitale)

The Métrobus, with its four express lines, and regular buroutes will take you to most parts of town, and is especially good in the city centre. Parc-o-bus “park & rides” are also available in the outskirts to make the transit easier.

Highways 20 and 40 connect Quebec City to Montreal and Ottawa, and there’s easy access to the Charlevoix area to the east and to Lac-Saint-Jean to the north.

How to choose your rental neighbourhood in Quebec City

There are several charming neighbourhoods in Quebec City in which to rent an apartment. Your best bet is to visit the neighbourhoods by bus or foot to get a sense of the services, amenities and rental accommodation.

If you’ve found an area that you like, keep an eye out for “À louer” (for rent) signs, or go online to RentQuebecApartments.com to look for rental listings. When you visit apartments, keep this handy list of things to look for.

There are 6 boroughs in Quebec City:

•          Beauport
•          Charlesbourg
•          La Cité-Limoilou
•          La Haute-Saint-Charles
•          Les Rivières
•          Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge

The Old City, or Upper Town, is popular with tourists but it will be harder to find rental housing in that area. The real downtown is often considered to be the lower part of town, stretching all the way to Quebec Bridge.

Wealthier parts of town include the Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge area, which makes it easy for students to get to the university. New tenants often start with the more affordable rental areas of Limoilou and Saint-Rock. With the métrobus, it’s still accessible to most parts of town.

Costs of renting in Quebec City

Quebec City is a safe one, compared to other cities of its size, and offers renters affordable rental housing and education options with low tuition rates. The City is well rated for quality of life, to the delight of many tenants.

When you find an apartment to rent, you’ll be pleased to know that electricity is cheaper than in many other provinces, as Quebec uses hydro-electric power. With Hydro-Québec, you can even use the online evaluation tool to calculate your expenses for electricity when you move in.

When you’re budgeting your move, don’t underestimate moving costs (moving day in Quebec is July 1) and plan on getting home rental insurance as well. You won’t have to worry about deposits in Quebec.

Many students and young professionals renting apartments choose to share their rental accommodation with roommates. This can lower the costs and keep things interesting at home!

Renting an apartment: be prepared!

Local newspapers are a good place to start in your search for rental accommodation in Quebec City, as are bulletin boards in the university. You can also check some great listings on RentQuebecApartments.com.

When you meet the landlord, have your references ready. The landlord will want to check your credit score as well.

In Quebec, the Régie du logement regulates leases, but take the time anyway to read yours thoroughly before signing. You should find out if the apartment is furnished or not, and if heating is included in the rent. If it is furnished, take photographs of the condition of the furniture. Check to see if you’re allowed to sublet your apartment. If you need modifications, or if you’re willing to extend the length of the lease, you could try to negotiate with the landlord.

Assistance for renters

If you ever have trouble with your landlord, try to resolve it amicably. If you find that there’s no way out, contact the following resources for help:

•          Helpful resources for newcomers
•          Renting apartments and leases
•          Régie du logement

Bonne chance!