March 23, 2026

Cutting costs as a renter: a practical guide to saving money

Gone are the days when rent was under $500. Today’s economic landscape is complex. The difficulty of finding housing, combined with inflation, makes things harder—but not impossible. Today, more than ever, it's important to know a range of tips to reduce your costs as a tenant. Discover everything you need to know to save money without compromising your well-being!

Choose your housing strategically

Your most important decision is choosing your housing. Unsurprisingly, this is your biggest expense, and there are several ways to save money.

Inclusions versus exclusions

Get out your calculator! Carefully calculating what’s included and what’s not helps you make an informed choice before you even sign a lease. For example, a slightly higher rent that includes heating might be worth it and help you save money in the long run.

Are you a gym enthusiast? If your future rental condo has a gym accessible to tenants, the higher rent may be justified by this perk. Start by calculating the cost of your annual gym membership versus the difference in rent.

An all-inclusive rental price may include hot water, parking, or internet. These extras are worth paying a little more each month.

When signing the lease, pay close attention to section G: the notice to the new tenant indicates the lowest rent paid in the last 12 months.

	Tips and tricks Have you considered conducting a pre-rental screening? To stack the odds in their favor, more and more tenants are taking the initiative to conduct their own screening rather than waiting for the landlord to handle it .

Ready to tour apartments? Check out our list of questions to ask during showings.

Energy history

Checking the energy history of the apartment you’re interested in is a good way to gauge its energy consumption—based on the previous tenant’s usage habits, of course. This history still gives you a good idea of the unit’s insulation.

Using Hydro-Québec data, you can estimate and anticipate energy consumption and associated costs. Note that a newer, higher-rent apartment generally consumes less energy and may be a more sensible choice.

	Tips and tricks When renting, carefully review the ancillary fees (e.g., outdoor storage, maintenance, etc.). Good to know: Be aware that rent can be increased without limit for units built within the last five years.

Other options

Several options exist when choosing a new place to live. Have you considered living in a co-op? In student housing? In public housing? Or living with roommates? In all these cases, it’s a solution worth considering to save money.

Location and future neighbourhood

Choose the location of your future home wisely. Being close to your job, public transit, and local shops can save you money on gas, transportation, and time—and make your new life more enjoyable!

Lowering your energy bills

Apart from rent, the biggest expense is often the electricity bill. Here are a few tips to help you cut back on your usage and lower your bills.

Tips for optimizing heating and air conditioning use

Often, it’s the small actions that make a big difference, such as placing plastic sheeting on the inside of windows during the winter or re-caulking.

You can also adjust the temperature at night. For example, why set the heat to 23°C when you’re all bundled up under the covers? Lowering the thermostat to 18°C will make a big difference on your bill—and even your comfort. In the summer, the same principle applies: keeping the air conditioning at a reasonable temperature rather than very cold helps avoid a significant spike in energy consumption.

Install a smart, programmable thermostat to manage your energy use better and save 10 - 15%. The only catch: you’ll need to discuss this with the landlord. And if you spend most of your time in common areas, remember to close the doors to unused rooms and turn down the heating or air conditioning in those areas.

When you’re visiting potential apartments, several signs can indicate poor insulation. Also note the sun’s orientation: will you get plenty of light and heat from the sun’s rays? For north-facing rooms, thermal curtains will be a great help to keep the apartment warm during winter. And they’ll also be useful in south-facing rooms, keeping the space cool on hot summer days.

Tips for reducing hot water usage

Taking a cold shower in the middle of winter to save hot water? No, thanks. However, opting for short showers instead of baths can really make a difference in your electricity bill. To better understand the cost of a 20-minute hot shower or a daily bath, use Hydro-Québec’s tool to calculate your hot water consumption. It’s enough to make you want to change your habits and shorten your next shower!

When it comes to laundry, a simple step is to wash clothes in cold water. Most clothes clean very well in cold water, which helps reduce the energy used to heat water.

Finally, reducing dryer use saves electricity and extends the lifespan of both the appliance and your clothes. In the summer, take advantage of the sun’s heat—hang your clothes outside for natural, efficient drying.

Tips for reducing electricity use

Are you attached to your old appliances? Unfortunately, they’re very energy-intensive. To save on heating and electricity, opt for high-efficiency, Energy Star-certified appliances whenever possible, as well as LED bulbs and smart power strips.

Your kitchen habits can also make a difference. Cooking with a slow cooker and an air fryer instead of a stovetop saves 80% on electricity.

Is your dryer always plugged in? Unplugging unused appliances or putting them on standby is a money-saving habit. Learn more about your appliances’ energy consumption.

	Tips and tricks The equal payment plan offered by Hydro-Québec is appealing but be careful not to underestimate your consumption. At the end of the year, you might have to pay a large additional amount. It might be better to choose this payment plan during your second year in your new home.

Shop around for insurance… every year

Shop around for home insurance a few weeks before your policy expires, every time you renew. Not only may your circumstances have changed (new car, new apartment, new job, security system installed, etc.)—and your needs as well—but insurance rates also fluctuate over the years. And loyalty in insurance isn’t always rewarded.

Request home insurance quotes from several companies. With online comparison tools, it’s much faster and easier than before.

Regarding whether home insurance is really necessary as a renter, the answer is yes. Although it is not mandatory in Quebec, it will protect your personal property in the event of theft, fire, or water damage, and you personally in the event of a civil liability claim.

To save a significant amount of money, consider checking with your employer or the university where you studied—they sometimes offer attractive discounts—and combine two insurance products (auto and home).

Internet, phone, and streaming services

Just like with insurance, it’s important to shop around for residential phone, cell phone, and internet providers. Plus, bundling multiple services (internet and cell phone) can save you money. Don’t hesitate to compare internet plans from various providers, both large and small. You might discover unexpected discounts!

As for streaming platforms, you often have the option of a seven-day trial before choosing between various plans: with or without ads, 4K or HDR, two or four devices, premium or standard, etc. It’s not essential to stick with the same streaming service all the time. Rotating between services lets you keep up with new releases without subscribing to every platform.

You can also sign up for a group plan with trusted friends or family to save money! If you own a business, consider checking the cost of business plans for your personal use.

Cut down on leisure expenses by taking advantage of municipal services

People often overlook the wide range of services the city offers. Cities work hard to provide free events or low-cost activities, such as lectures, themed evenings, and classes. Check them out!

Don’t forget to sign up for your new neighbourhood's library. Instead of buying books, you can borrow them for free and even suggest new titles. Book exchange boxes found in city parks or buildings are also an option. If there’s no community pool in your municipality, access to pools or gyms through partnerships with nearby towns is sometimes available at a lower cost.

The key: seek out free activities offered by your city, and the surrounding area, such as museums, exhibitions, lectures, and festivals.

Roommates: sharing to split costs

Living with roommates remains the most economical way to share a place to live, split bills, and share responsibilities. You might even be able to afford a better-located—and more expensive—apartment if you’re sharing it with others. Many people choose to have roommates for financial reasons, but also for the joy of living together.

If your apartment includes a parking spot but you don’t own a car, you may be able to sublet it—with the landlord’s permission, of course.

	Tips and tricks If you’re considering a shared living arrangement, be sure to draw up clear agreements with your roommates regarding the division of shared expenses.

Check available credits and subsidies

Housing assistance is available in Quebec for a variety of situations. Here is a brief overview of the available assistance programs and subsidies:

Tax credits for individuals: a list of 45 tax credits based on your situation
Solidarity tax credit
Shelter allowance program: monthly financial assistance for low-income households
Rent supplement program
Allowance for a person living alone
Low-income housing or subsidized housing
Société d’habitation du Québec: search by region

Don’t hesitate to reach out to various sources: from your city council members to your MP, as well as various organizations. They will be able to guide you.

Know your rights to avoid unnecessary fees

There are several illegal fees that a landlord cannot charge a tenant, such as a security deposit, advance rent payments (except for the first month, which may be required upon signing the lease), rent increases during the lease term, etc.

Do you disagree with your rent increase and believe it is excessive? As a tenant, you have rights: you are not obligated to accept this increase and have recourse.

	Tips and tricks The lease is automatically renewed. If your landlord wishes to make changes to the lease, such as a rent increase, they must send you written notice. At that point, you can negotiate certain terms, such as replacing the thermostats with newer models.

Find a cozy home

Did you know you can search for your future home on Centris.ca? You can narrow down your search to a specific area using our interactive map and apply filters such as price, specific features, and lifestyle.

FAQ

1. How can I keep moving costs down?

Reuse old boxes instead of buying new ones, ask family and friends for help, and most importantly, try to move at a time other than July 1. Don’t hesitate to compare moving quotes with MovingWaldo. Additionally, some moving expenses may be reimbursed depending on your situation.

2. Can I deduct my rent on my taxes?

Unfortunately, no. However, there are deductions available for teleworking expenses.

3. Can I install energy-saving devices myself (e.g., showerhead, thermostat, etc.)?

Usually, this is possible for removable items, but it’s always best to check with the landlord first.