Canadian Housing System

Canadian housing policy runs on a federal frame (the National Housing Strategy, CMHC) plus provincial and municipal delivery. Two differences from Korea jump out: (1) tenant protections and rent control are set province by province, and (2) a temporary ban on foreign home buyers is in force. As a result, rent rules and the buying environment differ markedly between Toronto and Montreal, or between Vancouver and Calgary.

Renting — provincial tenant protections

• Ontario: the Residential Tenancies Act and the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Annual rent increase guideline caps rent hikes (some new builds occupied after 15 November 2018 are exempt).
• Quebec: the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) handles rent and renewal disputes. Tenants have strong renewal rights; rent increases follow a government calculation formula.
• BC: the Residential Tenancy Branch mediates disputes. The annual rent-increase cap applies while the same tenant is in place.
• Alberta: no cap on the size of rent increases, but rules limit frequency (typically once every 12 months) and require notice.

In most provinces a deposit is around first or last month's rent (or the sum of both); there's no Korean-style jeonse lump-sum lease.

Rent assistance

• Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) — co-funded by the federal and provincial governments and delivered by your province; a cash supplement for low-income renters.
• Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) — in some social housing, you pay roughly 30% of household income as rent.
• Examples by province: Ontario's Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit, BC's Rental Assistance Program and SAFER (for seniors), Quebec's Allocation-logement.
• Applications and waitlists are usually managed at the city or regional housing registry; in big cities, waitlists are extremely long.

Social and public housing

• Co-op housing — non-profit cooperatives, a distinctively Canadian and important slice of the rental market.
• Non-profit housing — operated by religious organizations and NGOs.
• Public housing — owned and operated by cities or provinces (e.g., Toronto Community Housing).
• These are typically RGI or priced below market.

Buying a home — the foreign-buyer rules matter

• Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act: the ban on residential purchases by non-Canadians took effect in 2023 and has been extended to 1 January 2027 (as of current policy). PRs, certain work or study permit holders, and some non-urban areas under 50,000 population are among the exceptions.
• Foreign-buyer taxes: BC's Foreign Buyers Tax, Ontario's Non-Resident Speculation Tax — some provinces add their own tax on non-resident purchases.
• Vacancy taxes: Vancouver's Empty Homes Tax, Toronto's Vacant Home Tax, and the federal Underused Housing Tax (UHT) — all weigh heavily on overseas owners and non-residents.
• First Home Savings Account (FHSA) — eligible first-time buyers (citizens, PRs, etc.) can save tax-free.
• Mortgages are typically 5-year fixed or variable, with 25–30 year amortizations. CMHC or private mortgage insurance is required for down payments below 20%.

From an immigrant perspective

• Can a work permit holder buy? Only if you meet the foreign-buyer ban's exception criteria (type of work permit, time remaining, tax filing history, number of properties already owned, etc.). The details vary a lot — work with a real estate lawyer.
• What if I ignore a rent-increase notice? Each province sets the notice period and required form. Check your provincial tenancy board or court website for the exact paperwork.
• Renting out after returning to Korea? Non-resident rental income is generally subject to 25% withholding; filing form NR6 lets you switch to net-income taxation.

Official guidance: CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation), your provincial tenancy board / housing ministry