Where can you find cheap apartments for rent in Halifax? After all, Halifax is rare: it has a reasonable cost of living compared to the other most expensive cities in Canada.
If you’re looking for a rental in Canada’s east end, you should have little trouble finding something affordable. Compared to other cities across Canada, like Toronto or Vancouver, Halifax’s rental prices are relatively affordable.
Having said that, some neighbourhoods are more expensive than others. That’s why it’s important to use available tools to help you pinpoint where the cheapest rentals are located to ensure you stick to your monthly budget.
Neighbourhoods With Cheap Apartments For Rent In Halifax
Anyone looking for cheap apartments for rent in Halifax shouldn’t have much trouble, as the city’s housing prices are below the national average. That said, certain areas are more affordable than others. If you’re looking for an affordable place to rent in Halifax, check out the following neighbourhoods:
Lower Sackville
If you’re looking for a cheap place to live without having to sacrifice the amenities of big-city living, Lower Sackville is worth looking at. City officials are recognizing how popular this neighbourhood is becoming, particularly as it relates to commuting to and from Halifax. As such, a ton of infrastructure has been built in the recent past to accommodate the rapid growth.
Eastern Passage
Eastern Passage is located in a great spot mostly surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean just east of the downtown core. Its location makes it the perfect fishing village, which attracts not only a lot of tourists but those looking for affordable housing.
Fairview
Located on the west end of Halifax, Fairview is one of the cheapest places to live in the city. It’s only 20 minutes away from the city’s core by car, making it easily accessible for work and entertainment. Plus, it’s not too far from Dartmouth University, making it a great place for families who prefer their kids to continue living at home while they attend school.
How To Find Cheap Apartments For Rent In Halifax
There are several websites available that are designed to help you find the lowest-price rentals in Halifax:
Kijiji
Kijiji can be used to search for cheap apartments for rent in Halifax. Just type in your location of choice in the search bar and choose “real estate” from the drop-down menu to start your search.
Kijiji will generate a list of rentals that match your criteria, along with monthly rent prices, photos, and descriptions. And once you’ve found the perfect place, you can use the online classified site to look for furniture to fill your new home!
Padmapper
Padmapper is an online platform that’s designed to help make apartment hunting quick and easy. Start by typing in the city you’re looking in, then Padmapper will give you the option to narrow down your search by price, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lease term, and many other filters. You’ll see listings that match your criteria plotted on a map and listed on the side with photos and prices.
Zumper
Another handy online rental finder is Zumper, which can help you find a place in Halifax that suits your budget. Begin your search by typing in your city or neighbourhood, then choose between short- and long-term lease lengths, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and your monthly budget.
Zumper will use that information and populate a list of relevant rentals that match your criteria. You’ll also find available rentals plotted on a map to help you get a precise location for each rental. If you find one that looks good, you can apply directly from Zumper’s website.
Rentals.ca
Search among dozens of apartments, condos, and homes available for rent in Halifax. In addition to price range, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and property type, you can further narrow your search by choosing from a variety of other filters. This includes square footage, features and amenities, and even the type of flooring in the home. Peruse available listings from the map, the list, or both.
Facebook Marketplace
Find your next home with Facebook Marketplace, an online platform that posts cheap apartments for rent in Halifax. There are tons of deals to be had on all sorts of property types, including detached homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments.
Browse through the list of apartments that match your search criteria and the map for available properties. If you don’t find one right away, sign up to receive notifications when new rentals are posted that match your criteria.
What Is The Average Rent In Halifax?
According to Zumper one-bedroom apartments are the most popular, while 4-bedroom units are low in supply. The following chart lists the average rent price for apartments in Halifax:
| Average Rent | Year-Over-Year Change | |
| Studio | $1,395 | 8% |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,725 | 17% |
| 2-Bedroom | $2,200 | 23% |
| 3-Bedroom | $2,262 | 29% |
What If You Can’t Pay Your Rent In Halifax?
If money is a little short this month, you might not have enough to fully cover next month’s rent. If so, consider the following options:
Speak To Your Landlord
Your first step is to let your landlord know that you won’t be able to pay rent on time this month. The more notice you provide, the better. Depending on your landlord and your previous rent payment habits, your landlord may be willing to be flexible on next month’s rent.
If you’ve never missed a payment before, you may have a better chance of getting an extension on your upcoming rent. Regardless, it’s always best to speak with your landlord right away if you don’t think you’ll be able to cover next month’s rent on time.
Spread Costs With A Personal Loan
If you’re stuck in a rough financial situation and require a few months to get back on your feet, consider taking out a personal loan to pay your rent. A personal loan can help you cover your rent payments while only requiring you to make smaller more affordable payments over a period of time.
Online lenders provide quick approval and funding, so you can get the much-needed funds within a day or two. The fast cash will ensure that you meet your rent due date, especially if it’s coming up soon. If you have good credit, you can secure a low-interest rate, making your loan more affordable.
If your financial troubles are more long-term in nature, it may be time to start looking for cheap apartments for rent in Halifax that will make it easier for you to cover your rent payments.
Pay With A Credit Card
Landlords usually accept rent payments in the form of a cheque, e-transfer, or cash. But they don’t typically accept credit card payments.
Luckily, there are rent payment services available that can take your credit card payment and deposit the money into your landlord’s account. That way your landlord gets paid, and you can take advantage of the perks of using your credit card, including earning points and building good credit.
But perhaps the biggest advantage of using your credit card to pay your rent is to give you more time to come up with the rent money. Paying with credit means you’ll be on time with your rent payment. You’ll then have a few weeks to come up with the funds to cover the credit card balance.
Otherwise, you can make a minimum monthly payment to avoid a late credit card payment if you can’t pay the full balance when it’s due. However, this is not recommended as you can end up accumulating a lot of interest and debt.
Find Cheap Apartments For Rent Across Canada
How To Qualify For Cheap Apartments For Rent In Halifax?
Online rent platforms are great resources to have when you’re looking for cheap apartments to rent in Halifax. But there are other things you can do to keep rent as low as possible:
Give Your Credit Score a Boost
While finding cheap apartments is one thing, qualifying as a tenant is another. If you find a cheap apartment for rent in Halifax, you can improve your chances of being chosen by the tenant by having a good credit score.
Many landlords include a credit check as part of the screening process. Your credit score tells landlords what kind of tenant you might be in terms of timely rent payments. While a good credit score means you’ve been on time with your bill payments in the past, a low credit score means you’ve had trouble keeping up with payments.
As such, boosting your credit score prior to applying for a rental will increase the chances of you securing an apartment, and may also give you some negotiating power to convince your landlord to reduce the rent price.
How To Check Your Credit Score For Free In Canada?
Before applying for a lease, find out what your credit score is first. You can check your credit score for free by using Loans Canada’s CompareHub platform. And if you sign up, you can use CompareHub to find loans to pay rent at the lowest interest rates based on your financial and credit profile.
Search During Off Times
Many house hunters tend to be more active during the spring and summer seasons when the weather is nicer. When more people are looking for a rental, demand increases for the current supply, which can drive prices up.
You may be better off waiting until the fall and winter to start looking for a new home when demand tends to die down a little. Not only will this help cool rental prices, but it will soften the competition, so you won’t be fighting with others vying for the same rental.
Consider University Residences
College and university residences are typically reserved for students, but they may be open to accommodating travellers and those looking for short-term leases when school is out. If you’re not looking for anything long-term or if you’re a student, a school residence may be something to consider.
These properties can be cheaper than the average rental, especially since many of them are shared accommodations. That said, some units are fully equipped with a private kitchen, living room, and bathroom if you’re willing to spend a little extra.
If you’re comfortable sharing your kitchen and bathroom with other renters, then consider a shared accommodation or getting a roommate. Because you don’t get exclusive use of certain parts of the property, your rent will reflect that sacrifice. Shared accommodations are typically much cheaper than traditional apartments, so they’re great for anyone on a tight budget.
How To End A Lease In Halifax?
If you want to end your lease in Halifax, you must provide your landlord with notice, depending on your tenancy:
- Annual tenancies: At least 3 months before the lease end date
- Monthly tenancies: At least 1 month’s notice
- Weekly tenancies: At least 1 week’s notice
That said, you may be able to end your lease earlier if you’re in danger due to domestic violence or health concerns, or if your landlord breaches the terms of the lease contract. Or, you and your landlord may come to an agreement to end your lease early.
Final Thoughts On Cheap Apartments For Rent In Halifax
Housing in Halifax is somewhat affordable relative to other cities across Canada. And many of the cheap apartments for rent in Halifax tend to be in the neighbourhoods of Lower Sackville, Eastern Passage, and Fairview. You can check out apartments in these areas, or use one of the many online platforms to find the cheapest rentals in the city.
