​International Student Apartment Hunting Guide: Montreal 

One of the first steps for any international student after completing their visa application and booking their plane ticket is finding accommodation for their first year at university. It is often the first real step toward integrating into life in Montreal. While there are many housing options available, not every option is convenient or suitable for international students.

There are three main considerations when choosing an apartment: furnishing, location, and flexibility. Every international student should understand the importance of these factors before beginning their apartment search.

Below is an outline of each consideration, along with guidance on what students should look for when choosing their first home in Montreal.

FURNISHMENT

Many foreign students arrive in Canada with one luggage only weeks before school starts. Therefore, the ideal accommodation would need to be already furnished. This is important because there is no guarantee that one will stay in the same place as their university. In addition, there are many exchange students, especially those who arrive at Concordia University only for a short period of time.

Consequently, it is fundamental that an apartment eliminates the cost of furniture and stress.

At Rakatto, we make sure to provide furnished apartments as we understand how important it is. We provide impeccably designed and furnished apartments.

Key considerations before signing any lease: 

Is the property manager able to do a video call to show the apartment to me? 

This is especially important because rental scams are unfortunately very common. Many apartment listings showcase beautifully furnished spaces at unbelievably low prices, but the reality often does not match the photos. Images can easily be taken from other websites and reposted to create fake listings.

In many cases, scammers use these listings to pressure students into signing fake documents and sending deposits in advance. If a listing seems too good to be true, or if the owner or property manager refuses to arrange a video call or virtual tour, it is best to avoid making any payment before properly verifying the apartment.

One of our team members would be happy to take you on a virtual apartment tour, allowing you to visualize the space before even arriving in Canada. During the tour, any additional questions can be answered while also getting to know your preferences better in order to suggest alternative options that may suit your needs.

Get in touch with us through our

, and one of our team members will reach out to you shortly.

Does the kitchen include appliances, cookware, or basic utensils?

While many furnished apartments include the basics such as a mattress, bed frame, couch, and other larger furniture pieces, not all of them provide smaller but essential items like cooking appliances and kitchenware. These details may seem minor at first, but they quickly become important parts of daily life during your stay.

When it comes to non-essential items, international students should ask themselves how important these items are to their lifestyle. For example, are you planning to regularly eat at university dining halls and nearby restaurants, or do you expect to cook most of your meals at home? Understanding your daily habits can help determine which furnished options are truly practical and comfortable for your needs.

When contacting any apartment listings, it is important to get a full list of items, so you are well prepared. 

For students who want a move-in-ready option, Rakotta offers furnished apartments in downtown Montreal across several properties, including Dorchester Apartments, Gramercy Residences, and Le 2100.

These buildings are designed for students, newcomers, and professionals who want to arrive with minimal setup and begin living comfortably from day one.

LOCATION

The second key consideration for international students, especially those attending Concordia University, is the location of the furnished apartment. Unlike some other universities in Montreal, such as HEC Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal, Concordia is located in the heart of downtown Montreal, where much of the city’s activity takes place, including nightlife and other noisy environments. Because of this, choosing an apartment with good sound insulation is extremely important to avoid constant noise and poor sleep quality.

It is also important to find a place that allows easy access to the university, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other daily essentials. While this may not seem critical at first, it becomes one of the most important factors once students settle into their routine.

Many first-year international students at Concordia experience their first heavy winter and snowfall during their time in Montreal. While walking 30 minutes may feel manageable during the warmer months, the reality changes significantly once winter begins in December. Snow, wind, and freezing temperatures can quickly make long walks exhausting and uncomfortable, especially for students who are not yet physically or mentally accustomed to these conditions.

For this reason, students should carefully evaluate the distance between their accommodation and essential locations before signing a lease. This includes checking how easily they can reach the university, grocery stores, pharmacies, public transportation, and any other places important to their lifestyle. For some students, this may also include cafés or study spaces that help them maintain the routines they were used to in their home country. Whatever those priorities may be, they should always be analyzed carefully on maps before committing to an apartment.

This is a comparison checklist recommended for every apartment you are considering. It can help international students better evaluate which option is the most practical for their lifestyle and daily needs.

All of the details listed below are already included with every apartment offered by Rakatto, so there is no need to research them separately when browsing Rakatto apartments.

FLEXIBILITY

The third key consideration for international students is flexibility. Students usually ask are there any flexible leases available for Concordia University? Or alternatively are there any lease flexibility for apartments in downtown Montreal? 

While many apartments in Montreal are offered with standard 12-month leases, this type of commitment is not always ideal for every student, especially for those arriving in Canada for the first time. This is why many students ask questions such as the ones mentioned before. 

Flexibility is particularly important not only for exchange students, but also for full-time international students attending Concordia University.  Many international students return to their home countries during the summer break, meaning they may spend several months away from Montreal each year. In these situations, signing a 12-month lease can result in paying rent for months when the apartment is sitting completely unused.

Having the option of a shorter or more flexible lease can therefore help students avoid unnecessary expenses while still enjoying a comfortable and secure stay during the academic year.

International students should therefore always ask about lease duration options before signing an agreement. Questions such as whether shorter lease terms are available, whether extensions are possible, and what the conditions are for ending or renewing a lease can make a significant difference later on.

For all of these questions, and any others you may have, our team is always available to guide you through them in detail and help you make the best decision for your stay in Montreal.

Get in touch with us through our contact form, and one of our team members will reach out to you shortly.

FAQs

We will extract the questions and structure from the below page and insert at the end of the blog.

https://www.rakotta.com/faqs

We will also use additional questions tailored specifically from the blog content itself.

1. Are there furnished apartments close to Concordia University?

Yes. Rakotta's properties are located in Montreal's Golden Square Mile, within easy reach of Concordia University's downtown campus. This helps students reduce commute times and maintain convenient access to classes, study spaces, and student services.

2. Are there flexible lease terms for international and exchange students?

Yes. Rakotta offers lease options providing flexibility for exchange students, visiting researchers, and international students who may not require a traditional 12-month lease.

3. Is it better to live downtown Montreal as an international student?

For many students, downtown Montreal offers convenience, easy access to universities, shopping, public transportation, entertainment, and student communities. However, students should also consider factors such as noise levels and building quality.