Guides · For students
Moving to Montréal as a McGill student
Finding your first apartment in a new city is a lot to handle on top of courses. Here is what we tell the students who rent from us every year, from when to start looking to what to do on your first day.
When to start looking
Most Montréal leases run from July 1 to June 30, so many apartments come free at the same time. If you start in September, begin looking in spring or early summer; the closer you get to late August, the fewer choices are left.
Near McGill, furnished apartments often have leases starting May 1, July 1 or September 1. Ours do too.
Where to live
Milton-Parc, the neighbourhood students call the McGill Ghetto, sits right beside campus: most streets are five to fifteen minutes on foot from the Roddick Gates. The Plateau to the east and downtown to the south are also close, with more nightlife and a little more noise.
- Walk to class: Milton-Parc
- More space, short metro ride: Côte-des-Neiges, the Plateau
- Quiet and green: the streets near Mount Royal
Furnished or not
A furnished apartment lets you arrive with a suitcase, which makes a big difference if you are coming from outside Montréal. Ask exactly what is included: bed, desk, kitchenware, internet, utilities.
Before you sign
- Visit the apartment, in person or by video or 3D tour, before sending any money
- In Québec, landlords must use the official lease form from the Tribunal administratif du logement
- Check section G of the lease: it shows the lowest rent paid for that apartment in the past 12 months
- Read the building rules, which the landlord must give you before you sign
- Ask what is included in the rent: heating, hot water, electricity, internet
- Be wary of anyone who asks you to wire money for an apartment you have never seen
Your first week
- If electricity is not included, open a Hydro-Québec account before you arrive
- Book your internet installation early; August and September are busy
- Get an OPUS card for the metro and buses; full-time students can apply for reduced fares
- Consider tenant insurance for your belongings and liability
- Save your landlord's maintenance and emergency contacts in your phone
Winter
Montréal winters are long and cold. Ask how the apartment is heated and whether heating is included, and keep windows closed when it is very cold. Report any heating problem right away; for our tenants, a heating failure in winter is an emergency.
Updated October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
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Looking for an apartment near McGill?
Furnished, utilities included, minutes from campus.