There are different types of housing in Manitoba. Reading this section will help you find an affordable home for yourself or your family.
This guide from the government agency Canada Mortgage and Housing is published in eight languages. It gives all the information you need about housing - renting an apartment, buying a home, looking after your home.When you are looking for a place to live consider neighbourhood qualities - the location of schools, shopping, buses, safety, recreational and community services. Housing costs vary by neighbourhood, with the inner-city generally the cheapest.
Find a place to rent or buy in the classified ad section of the Winnipeg Free Press (or major newspaper in your rural area), or in the Home Renters Guide (hometrader.ca) or other free publications found in news stands at banks and stores. Or try this online services:
As well as apartments and houses, renting a room in a private house or rooming house is most often the cheapest place to live but you may have to share a bathroom or kitchen with someone else.
When you rent a house or apartment you will have to give a "damage deposit" (generally half a month's rent) and sign a "lease." A lease is a binding, legal agreement between you and the landlord (the building owner or manager). It says how much the rent is, how long you agree to stay, and other conditions. Most leases are for one year. If you "break" your lease by leaving before the end you may be responsible for remaining rent.
You should inspect your house or apartment before signing your lease to ensure your landlord does not later charge you for damage that was already there. It is very important that you understand the lease before you sign. If you have questions - or if your landlord does not fulfill the responsibilities specified in the lease, contact the provincial government department Residential Tenancies Branch.
Homeowners must pay property taxes each year. The amount depends on the type of home, location and the size of the lot. You can choose to pay your taxes by month. Winnipeg Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) or phone 204-986-2161.
All homes are supplied with utilities - electricity and, in most cases, natural gas (Manitoba Hydro), and water & waste service (City of Winnipeg). Residents must pay for these utilities. For rentors some costs may be included in your rent.
When you move into your home phone Hydro at 480-5900, so they can measure the amount of electricity (and gas) you use. They will send you a monthly bill. For Winnipeg water & waste department phone 986-5858.
Note that all but old houses are heated with gas or electricity; with Manitoba's cold winters heating cost can be substantial. (We call electricity "hydro" because it is generated at hydro-electric dams on some of Manitoba's many rivers.)
Water service and sewer systems travel through underground pipelines to homes and buildings in all Manitoba cities and many towns. Most apartment renters are not billed separately for the water they use. However if you rent or own a house, you will receive a bill for the amount of water you use plus a sewer charge. Your bill could arrive monthly or quarterly.
Houses in some rural districts have an underground water cistern for the water supply and an underground septic tank for sewage. In this case, you must contact local suppliers to have water brought to your home by truck and to have the sewage pumped out of your septic tank and taken away. You will find lists of suppliers in your local telephone directory or from the local municipal office.
