Rent Halifax Apartments

Halifax

Renting in Halifax: “From away” and here to stay!

Maybe it's the draw of the ocean that nurtures the creative soul in all of us with its maritime symphony. Maybe it's the music, echoing centuries of the vibrant mixed First Nations, African, Acadian, and Celtic heritage. Or maybe it's the festivals that draw visitors from around the world for events such as the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Scallop Days Festivals, Celtic Colours International Festival or the Stan Rogers Folk Festivals.

Whatever it is, there’s something magical about Nova Scotia – and Halifax in particular – that draws students, artists, professionals and tourists to this lively Maritime province.

Halifax is laid back, with a population of 413,000 (45% of Nova Scotia's entire population!). If you’re planning on renting a house or apartment in Halifax, be prepared for a city with a very distinctive feel and character, with several universities and colleges in a rather small radius.

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Featured apartments in Halifax

What to expect when renting in Halifax

From naming the new harbour ferry to ridesharing (as well as a dedicated email hotline for new residents), renting a home in Halifax means living in a multicultural community rich in diversity and charm.

With this kind of community spirit, you’d be best to make nice with your Haligonian neighbours. Quiet hours in Halifax are from 9:30pm to 7am on weekdays, and it's always a good idea to introduce yourself to neighbours and let them know if you're planning a party, especially with the extensive Neighbourhood Watch program here.

Expect good settlement services with the Halifax Regional Municipality website, which can help with all kinds of information from registering a pet to residential parking permits. Crime rates have gone down recently, and the city makes it easy for tenants in Halifax to check out the crimes in their neighbourhoods.

Haligonians are serious about their composting and recycling. Once you find your apartment in Halifax, you might at first be a little befuddled by the use of blue bags, green carts, black sacs, and more when it comes to garbage disposal. For newbies, there’s the What Goes Where guide and information for new residents.

Displaying 1 to 10 of 42 Halifax apartment rental listings

Renting in Halifax: A Basic Overview

Renting in Halifax: neighbourhoods

Halifax Metropolitan Area, the Dartmouth Metropolitan Area, and the Bedford-Sackville areas together make up most of Halifax Regional Municipality (often referred to by locals as simply HRM), the largest urban area east of Quebec.

The cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, now amalgamated, consist of the urban zone of HRM, which spills over into the suburban Bedford and the Sackville area to the north, Mainland Halifax to the west, and Cole Harbour to the east.

Downtown Halifax area is the core area around the harbour, including the popular Quinpool district and Spring Garden Road. The downtown core is quite diverse and quite exciting, with lots of amenities, year-round festivals and great live music, and will thrill foodies and pub-goers.

Transit: getting around in Halifax

Halifax is relatively easy to get around. While there’s no train or subway, buses and ferries run quite often (see Halifax Metro Transit schedules). It’s quite a walkable city, and for those who don’t fear the rain, it’s quite possible to bike around too.

There are two routes for the ferries between downtown Halifax and Dartmouth, which is integrated with the bus system and park & ride options. From the commuter areas, there are two direct-service routes to get you to Halifax and Dartmouth.

Living costs in Halifax

Greater Halifax Partnership has a good run-down of the cost of living in Halifax.

Rental costs are not surprisingly higher near the centre of the city, but as always, you’ll have to balance with commuting costs and lifestyle preferences if you decide to move beyond the urban core. You can always place an ad and find a good roommate to share the bills (and some fun!).

Remember to budget for internet, cable, food, and household incidentals when you’re looking for your Halifax apartment. With some apartments, heat and hot water are included in the rent; if not, you’ll have to budget a good $100-$150 for utilities – make sure you winterize your rental apartment as much as possible to keep the cost down.

Most rental agreements in Halifax are for a 12-month period, and the apartment may come furnished or not (usually not).

Landlords will probably do a credit check, and can ask for a deposit for your Halifax rental, which is no more than half of the first month’s rent. This deposit is returned to you when you move out if you’ve left the flat in a good condition. Make sure you try to negotiate with your landlord before you sign your lease.

It’s smart to get rental insurance for your home and your belongings, even as a tenant, in case fire, theft, flooding, or other problems affect you and more seriously, a neighbour.

Resources for Halifax tenants

If you’re having trouble with your landlord, use these resources to get some help!

Residential Tenancies

Renting in Nova Scotia on the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Halifax 311: important municipal services and information

Newcomer’s Guide to Halifax

Toll-free line for Tenant’s Rights – Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations at 1-800-670-4357 or in HRM at 424-5200