Among the Canadian capital of Toronto’s many accommodation options are a large number of short-term rental properties that offer visitors the chance to live like a local.
A view over the Toronto skyline (Photo: abdallahh via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
The vast multi-cultural metropolis on Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore attracts huge numbers of tourists throughout the year – and catering to them are a myriad of hotels suiting every budget and taste. But for anyone who’d prefer to stay somewhere that offers the comforts of home, an alternative option to a hotel is finding a short-term rental property, many of which come fully furnished. We’ve picked out three of the best online resources for finding a short-term rental in Toronto below.
Blueground
Founded in 2013, Blueground cater to anyone looking for furnished rentals for anything from a month through to a year or longer, with reduced rates of up to 50% for stays of a month or longer. The company leases properties in the best locations of major cities and then upgrades them into high-quality rentals, before offering them to renters who are looking for bespoke living solutions.
All of their homes are fully furnished and come equipped with smart TVs, stocked kitchens, bedding, toiletries, high-speed WiFi and additional desks/chairs for working professionals and students. A dedicated app allows tenants to easily contact the company for support and it also offers a 24/7 remote self-check-in service. Flexible leases mean tenants have the option of paying their rent month-to-month and they can even move between Blueground properties in other cities at short notice.
In terms of pricing and availability, when we conducted research for selected dates in Toronto, we discovered around 10 available options, with the majority of properties situated in and around the city centre. Rates started at CA$2,650 per month for a one-bedroom apartment on Bay Street, rising to CA$5,010 per month for a luxurious one-bedroom property on Yorkville Avenue.
Sonder
Specialising in shorter stays of days or weeks, Sonder is a members-only platform offering a huge selection of studios, lofts, hotel rooms, and apartments in cities across the globe. Sonder leases, manages and operates its properties, helping make the guest experience a seamless one, as you don’t need to rely on a host to fix any problems that arise. Their properties combine many of the luxuries and service elements of a boutique-style hotel, including concierge and maintenance, crossed with the cosiness and conveniences of a homestay, with plenty of home comforts such as kitchenettes and living spaces.
Indeed, one of the main Sonder USPs is that the company lists properties that are typically in residential parts of a city. This allows guests to experience life as an authentic local, a little away from the typical tourist areas but close enough to be able to reach the main attractions with ease either by foot or by public transport if they wish.
When we looked for short-term rentals in Toronto with Sonder, we found a total of 6 available properties for our chosen dates, with rates starting at CA$170 per night for a one-bedroom property in the heart of Queen West, one of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods, rising to CA$432 per night for a 3-bedroom apartment in the similarly well-heeled Liberty Village district. The company also offer enticing discounts for longer stays, with 35% off for seven-day rentals and 40% for month-long rentals.
Kijij
Kijiji is Canada’s largest classifieds site and has connected huge numbers of people to the rentals marketplace since its creation in 2005. Whether you just moved to the country, found an opportunity in another province, or took a leap to move from the suburbs to the city, the company caters for prospective renters needs with thousands of rental listings posted every single day.
One key rental demographic who often turn to Kijij is those who have decided to share a place with roommates. In Toronto, the website lists thousands of flat share opportunities in every corner of the city, from the central districts to the outer suburbs. A monthly rental price is given for each property, along with a contact tab so you can get in touch with the seller, who can often be other flatmates seeking to reduce their rent by finding another tenant to share with.
When we searched for Toronto flat shares, we found rooms available for rates of around CA$500 per month, rising to over CA$1,000 per month for rooms in more luxurious properties and more desirable parts of the city. In the search function, you can also select for properties that come fully furnished as well as those that are pet-friendly.