Types of Accommodations
There are a few things to consider when looking for an accommodation. First, you should decide do you want to live in an Apartment building, a Flat, a Room, a Condo, Townhouse, or Duplex, or a House ?
Your search may also be dependant on the features that are included in the accommodation. You may consider writing down some of your accommodation criteria.
There are many apartment buildings in the Metro area. Most apartment buildings have a security system, on-site laundry facilities, on-site superintendent and parking. Your rent most often includes heat and hot water and sometimes electricity. You are usually required to sign a twelve month lease, but some will offer monthly leases.
Typically, there are four types of apartments that are offered. A bachelor apartment includes one room, a kitchen and a bathroom. A one bedroom apartment includes two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom. A two bedroom apartment is the most common type of apartment in Halifax and includes two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and at least one bathroom (sometimes two!). The last type of apartment is the three bedroom. While there are some apartment buildings that do offer the three bedroom, it is not very common. A three bedroom apartment has three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and one or two bathrooms. Sometimes a dining area or room is offered with the two or three bedroom apartment.
Examples of apartment layouts:
Bachelor Apartment
One-bedroom apartment
Two-bedroom apartment
Halifax has a number of houses (some of which are restored Victorian-style) that have been converted into apartments. These are typically called "flats" and each house usually has three flats. The rent may include heat, hot water and/or electricity and is usually between $900 to $1200 in the South end. Be wary of those flats in older houses that do not include heat because they may be drafty and the high ceilings make it difficult to heat.
Flats are an attractive choice for off-campus living because many have their own private entrance and they are unique in their architecture. Each flat usually has two to three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and a den or dining room. Some flats are able to accommodate more roommates because you may be able to use the den or dining rooms as bedrooms. However, be sure to inspect to be able to use the dens or dining rooms as bedrooms. However, be sure to inspect the flat carefully for heating, security features, fire sprinklers or extinguishers, and plumbing.
Many Haligonians (those that live in Halifax) rent out rooms in their homes. These rooms are typically furnished with a bed, dresser, desk and a chair. The kitchen facilities and bathroom are shared with the owner although sometimes there will be a separate bathroom. Rent is either paid on a weekly (between $75 to $150) or monthly basis (between $375 to $400). This is a good option for international students who will only be staying in Canada for a short time, as a lease is usually not required. Haligonians are very friendly and are happy to answer questions about their culture. This is also a good option for those who are in the process of looking for something more permanent.
Condos are very similar to apartments in apartment buildings, but can vary in the number of units. Some condos are more like townhouses in that they are two levels. Townhouses are joined to one another side by side and are two or three levels. Condos, townhouses and duplexes typically have two to three bedrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen and 1 to 2 bathrooms. They can also include five appliances (stove, fridge, washer, dryer, and dishwasher). While there may be a few vacancies of this type of accommodation available in South end of Halifax, typically you will find these in the West end of Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford. The rent can be from $750 to $1,300 per month and utilities are not usually included.
Houses in Halifax are typically two or three levels, three bedrooms, living room, kitchen (sometimes an eat-in kitchen), one and half or two bathrooms, and den or dining room. The difference between houses and town houses is that houses will have a front and backyard. Some houses will have a deck and/or a garage. They usually include five appliances (stove, fridge, washer and dryer, and garbage disposal). Renting houses in the South End of Halifax is quite competitive, but they are more common in Dartmouth and Bedford. Renting a house will cost you between $900 and $1,400 per month plus utilities.
This page last modified Thursday, 23-Feb-2012 10:59:40 AST