Ottawa Newbie

So you’re looking to move to the nation’s capital…but now what? Ottawa, in many ways, is an oddly unique city to hunt for new digs. As a former Ottawa newbie, I can definitely say that I have faced all of the struggles, stresses, and whirlwinds of emotion that come along with it. So don’t fret- I’ve got you covered. I have combined my first-hand experience along with the minds of Ottawa locals and the leading apartment rental management companies in the city in order to curate the ultimate Ottawa Apartment Hunting Guide for you. Short, sweet, and to the point- everything you need to know is here.

What’s Covered:

The Basic Breakdown of Ottawa’s Neighbourhoods

One of the first (and arguably most important) aspects of apartment hunting is establishing what it is exactly that you are looking for in your space. The core of Ottawa is quite uniquely divided into a number of awesome neighbourhoods, but all boast different housing options, levels of transportation access, lifestyles, budgets, and more. By knowing what aspects of living are most important to you, it is easier to then pinpoint what neighbourhoods work best. Start by asking yourself questions like: Do I prefer a highrise or a few storey walkup? How dependant will I be on public transit? How important is it to me to be close to things like bars and restaurants? What is not only my rental budget but my budget for essentials like groceries and toiletries? etc. From then, it will be much easier to settle in on a few neighbourhood options. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of some of Ottawa’s core neighbourhoods showcased in the map above.

Click here to jump to Ottawa apartment hunting tips, secrets, and myths debunked.

Sandy Hill

Westboro and Hintonburg

Gentrified, lively, and boutique-style. If you’re looking for a bustling, ‘hipster-like’, up and coming neighborhood…this is for you! The gentrification process has converted what was once a largely working-class area into one of the trendiest spots in the city. Although the cost of living is commonly higher here, you certainly get what you pay for. Stick along the Wellington West strip for easy access to specialty stores, gastropubs, cafes, and funky eats. Both areas are primarily filled with classic-style apartments, walk-ups, and condos, but Westboro does tend to offer newer and more modern options. This area hugs the LRT line making access to transit incredibly easy.

Centretown and Golden Triangle

Business, condos, and hustle and bustle. The main downtown core of Ottawa can typically be divided by the business district of Centretown and the lively sector of the Golden Triangle. The core of Centretown is the prime spot of condo-living, higher-end apartments, and transit access. Ottawa is a government town so although this area may be bustling from 9-5, it tends to come to an immediate halt at the end of the workday. A lot of shops and restaurants tend to align their hours with that of the nearby workers as well. The Golden Triangle however is where the bustle continues. This area is sandwiched along the canal and boasts an incredible array of shops, bars, and restaurants. Things like walk-ups, smaller apartment buildings, and houses are much more common for renting here. Access to transit is not as convenient as it is not close to an LRT station, but it’s an acceptable price to pay for the location you are in.

The Glebe

Eclectic, family-friendly, and shopping-heavy. The Glebe is one of Ottawa’s most exciting and expensive areas to live in. Hugging the bustling Bank Street, this neighbourhood is filled with trendy shops, all styles of restaurants, and entertainment. Another thing that sets this area apart from the rest is Lansdowne which is the home to the Ottawa Redblacks stadium, Ottawa 67’s rink, weekly farmer’s market, and a ton of large stores and restaurants. Access to bus transit is always within close proximity in The Glebe and connects seamlessly throughout the city.

Little Italy and Chinatown

Multicultural, friendly, and lively. One of the most cherished sectors in Ottawa is its Little Italy and Chinatown core. Lined along just a few downtown streets sits this intertwined and energetic area. The epitome of local lives here with the vast selection of restaurants, bars, and small shops. Walk-ups, bachelor apartments, and multi-room spaces are most common here. Additionally, being that you are away from the Centretown core, rent prices and square footages tend to be a lot more reasonable. LRT stations and major bus routes are also in great quantity and within walking distance.

ByWard Market and Lowertown

Restaurants, bars, and tourists. Although ByWard Market and Lowertown boast quite different living environments, they are also intertwined in many ways. The area of ByWard market is one of the biggest tourist spots in the city all year-round. Below, bars, restaurants, and shops line the streets- but above, classic condos and apartments sit atop. Multi-bedroom spaces and lofts are most common here. ByWard Market also filters into the quaint Lowertown. Here you are still within very close proximity to the hustle and bustle, but the cost of living is much lower. Things like modest basement apartments, room rentals, and walk-ups are much more common here. Access to transit is decent in this area but it gets increasingly better the closer that you get to the ByWard Market main entrance.

Old Ottawa East and Old Ottawa South

Classic, compact, and trendy. Old, but gold, these sectors of Ottawa are deemed the next ‘up-and-comers’. These residential streets are lined with stunning historic homes and filled with a friendly atmosphere. Streets like Main and Bank however are bustling with specialty shops, trendy restaurants, and dreamy cafes. The quality of living standards is much greater here and things like house rentals and multi-room spaces are much more common. Access to transit is not as easy in these areas, but it is present. In Old Ottawa South you are much more likely to benefit from public transit, but in Old Ottawa East it may be easier to have access to a car.

New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe Park

Upscale, historic, and quaint. The neighborhoods of New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe Park are by far some of the most elegant in the entire city. This classical area is filled with historic homes, townhouses, and condos. If you are looking for a larger living space or house rental, this is a fantastic area to consider. The side streets and nooks create a rather village-like feel that is perfect for families and couples alike. Access to transit is fairly reasonable, but it would be beneficial to have a car to get around.

Mechanicsville and Tunney’s Pasture

Residential, quiet, and apartment-heavy. Mechanicsville and Tunney’s Pasture are very unique areas of Ottawa compared to spots like Westboro, ByWard Market, and The Glebe. This little nook is predominantly just housing, apartments, and walk-ups. Although incredibly close to one of the cities major transit hubs, there are very few stores and restaurants nearby. These areas are great for those looking to live out of the downtown core and be able to easily navigate around the city.

Vanier

French-Canadian, residential, and modest living. If you are fluent in French or looking for an apartment on a budget, this is a great area to consider. Vanier is a predominately residential area loaded with older-style basement apartments, walk-ups, and classic multi-storey apartment buildings. Access to transit is decent if traveling by bus and there are plenty of shops and eateries sprawled throughout the area.

Ottawa Apartment Hunting Tips, Secrets, and Myths Debunked

From the minds of Ottawa locals, long-time residents, and the city’s leading rental companies.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to sit down with an Ottawa local, former newbie, or industry specialist and ask them all of your apartment hunting questions? For many, this is a nearly impossible opportunity. However- we’ve partnered with the minds of Ottawa locals, long-time residents, and the city’s leading rental companies to curate the ultimate Ottawa apartment hunting list of tips, secrets, and myths debunked.

the advice from ottawa locals

The basic questions of Ottawa apartment hunting

● What are the best Ottawa apartment hunting websites?

● When is the best time and worst time to go apartment hunting in Ottawa?

● What’s the number one thing that you wished you knew before you moved here?

● What’s the biggest misconception about the area that you live in?

● What are the most desired Ottawa neighbourhoods/areas to live in?

The specific questions of ottawa apartment hunting

● How long does the average Ottawa apartment stay on the market for?

● All-inclusive vs. heat and water included vs. no utilities included- what is better?

●. What is Ottawa parking like for renters?

The Basic Questions of Ottawa Apartment Hunting Answered by Ottawa Locals and Industry Experts

What are the best Ottawa apartment hunting websites to use for finding current, informative, and reliable information?

The top recommended internet sources for apartment hunting in Ottawa always stem back to the big three: social media, property management/realtor sites, and internet listing sites. Jessica Greenberg at Osgoode Properties recommends all three and says, “Property Management companies use social media ads and often have their own social media channels you can follow.  You can also read online reviews about the communities you are considering.” She also suggests property management company websites as “this is usually the most up to date information and shows everything that they have to offer in a couple of clicks.” Lauren from Minto Apartments also agrees saying, “(Here) you can explore what (property management companies) offer, their special promotions, figure out what you like, and then call and allow the leasing agents to find a place that’s right for you. It’s more personal, customizable, and overall, simple.” However, the old faithful internet listing sites are always good too, Ottawa local @emith005 says, “I found my apartment on Padmapper and used it exclusively. The map and filter features made it really easy to look at multiple places.” Websites like Padmapper, Kijiji, and Facebook Marketplace are exceptionally helpful because you can filter the listings to see the newest ones first. With apartments being snatched up so quickly, it helps to be able to view the listing and schedule a showing right away. Ottawa local @kaitsalole adds, “I think Kijiji is often the “afterthought” or not commonly used for looking for a place – but I highly recommend using it! Lots of hidden gems!”

When is the best time and worst time to go apartment hunting in Ottawa?

With Ottawa being such a major student city with inclement weather, there definitely are better times to move than others. In student-heavy areas like Sandy Hill, ByWard Market, Lowertown, and Old Ottawa South, leases tend to align with the school year. Having said that, in the spring and summer months you are likely to have a much larger variety of spaces to choose from as all the students have finished their leases and vacated the city. Additionally, the seasonality of this, in general, is helpful across the city as a lot of people tend to like to move when the weather is nicer. In the winter months, things are a little different. Jessica Greenberg from Osgoode Properties states, “Winter can be easier to book movers, trucks, etc. You may even find deals or incentives. However, also think about your moving conditions, it could be cold, snowing, or even hailing.”

What is the number one thing that you wished you knew about Ottawa as a whole before you moved here?

One of the most common responses to what Ottawans wish they knew prior to moving here is the logistics of our transit system. As connected as it is, a lot of components are still very new and almost on a trial basis. Ottawa local @chelsea_stirling states, “There are some really worthwhile neighborhoods to check out and as long as transit lines up with your work/school. There are some weird dead zones that are going to require 20 minutes of walking round trip and that is a recipe for cold, sad times.” In many other Canadian cities with an established bus and LRT system, it’s easy to sort of just figure out the transit system once you get there. Ottawa is different in this way because the LRT system is very new, the transit needs to work around the Ottawa River, and Ottawa-Gatineau bus lines are not very synchronized. As the LRT system is new, it doesn’t quite stretch far out of the downtown core at the moment. Local @eslichan says, “If you don’t have a car and you live farther away in a suburb, it’s hard to get downtown and around Ottawa.”

A close second piece of advice that locals and industry experts seem to agree on is to thoroughly research and consider a neighborhood on all levels before settling. Minto Apartments states, “Ottawa is a special city – beautiful, friendly, and fairly affordable compared to cities like Toronto. Try to figure out what neighborhood would suit you best. Do you need to be close to work or school? Do you want to live among young professionals in the Glebe? Do some searching, check out local blogs, and figure out where you want to be.” Checking out things like property management blogs and local social media influencer accounts are a great way to get a more dissected view of the city. Ottawa local @kaitsalole agrees saying, “While looking for an apartment, my boyfriend and I were able to learn where different neighbourhoods were located, but we didn’t really have an opportunity to visit these areas and neighbourhoods and learn about them until after we moved in and began to explore them ourselves!” Sometimes spending even one night in a city that you are considering can make a world of a difference!

What would you say is the biggest misconception about the area that you live in and/or have lived in?

The good, the bad, and the untrue. Every neighborhood in Ottawa has reputations that are true, but most commonly, that aren’t true at all. Unfortunately, the only way to really decipher the difference between the two is to have had first-hand experience living there. Here are some direct quotes from Ottawa locals on what they think the biggest misconception is of the area that they live or have lived in:

“When I first moved here, I lived in Sandy Hill like most students. The biggest misconception I had was that it was the only good option and that all the other neighborhoods were suburbs or “way out there”. Then I moved to Centertown and felt the same way. Turns out wherever you live just feels like “the best” and “home”. So if you don’t try different things you won’t know what you actually like.” says local @chelsea_stirling.

“I live in Centretown because compared to other comparable cities, the action always happened downtown. What I failed to consider is that Ottawa’s downtown core is almost only filled with people working 9-5 jobs. So after the workday, Centretown becomes a bit of a ghost town. It’s still nice to be in the hustle and bustle during the workday, but it’s certainly not the lively area that it is portrayed to be.” says local Matt P.

“I first lived in the ByWard Market when I moved here in 2018. Among locals, this sector has the reputation of being one big, noisy, tourist trap. Once you’ve situated yourself in it though, you realize it’s almost its own little island within the city. Restaurants fuel it, don’t get me wrong, but the sense of community and camaraderie among businesses is really cool. People know you here, and they care. It’s the first place I have ever had a ‘usual’ at a restaurant!” says an Ottawa local who asked to remain anonymous.

“I lived in Vanier from Jan 2019-March 2020, it has a reputation for being sketchy. There were definitely people in my neighborhood that I wouldn’t want to draw attention from, but it wasn’t as dangerous as I thought it would be.” says local @esmith005.

“I live near ByWard Market (but kind of close to Sandy Hill– at Besserer and King Edward). I think the biggest misconception about both areas is that it’s all students or younger people who live in these areas. However, our building is a mix of different people at different stages of life. There are a handful of students, young professionals, adults, and seniors who live in our building. Lots of families also live in the Sandy Hill area!” says local @kaitsalole

What are currently some of the most desired Ottawa neighborhoods/areas to live in?

With an answer that is so much so opinion-based, the answers are almost always the same: Westboro and Hintonburg. These up-and-coming neighborhoods are the definition of a classic case of gentrification. Trendy, packed with restaurants, and in a way, it’s a bit of a city within a city. Ottawa local @chelsea_stirling states, “It’s very expensive but it’s for sure one of the best places to live for amenities. The retail and food options are phenomenal.” The vibe in the area is very lively- local @esmith005 says, “I think there’s a lot happening in the Hintonburg area and a really young energy there. Being in my mid-twenties and wanting to go out and explore new restaurants and experiences, I think I would find a lot of that there.”

The Specifics of Ottawa Apartment Hunting Answered by Ottawa Locals and Industry Experts

How long does the average Ottawa apartment stay on the market for?

If there is one thing to live by while apartment hunting in Ottawa, it’s that when you see a place you like, you need to be ready to sign the papers right then and there. Jessica Greenberg from Osgoode Properties states, “Ottawa has been in the tightest real estate market we have seen maybe ever.” Now, of course, certain neighborhoods are less competitive than others. Jessica Greenberg from Osgoode Properties states, “In terms of what rents first, typically your urban core neighborhoods rent faster – downtown, Westboro, close to the universities, etc.” Minto Apartments adds, “It’s always better to start searching a bit earlier to allow yourself time to prepare. That way when you find “the one” you can jump on it! You never know who else has their eyes on it too.” If you are looking for a less intense and ‘act now style market, areas outside of the downtown core like Alta Vista, Bayshore, Mooney’s Bay, and Gloucester may be best for you.

All-inclusive vs. heat and water included vs. no utilities included- what tends to be the better option for Ottawa apartments?

Like many big cities, Ottawa offers a variety of rental options. It’s certainly nice to have the variety that we do, however, this can become deceiving when viewing rental prices. Jessica Greenberg from Osgoode Properties says, “Typically, there are three main options when you are apartment hunting, all-inclusive (usually includes water, heat, and hydro), hydro extra (heat and water are still included), or heat and hydro extra.  What many renters do not realize is that in the end, it typically comes out better to have utilities extra.  This gives you control over your own heat and hydro use.  In buildings that include utilities, landlords average those costs across all the suites.  This means you may pay more than what your personal consumption would have been.” Additionally, all-inclusive rentals tend to assume more of a hotel feel. Oftentimes, they come fully furnished and things like painting or hanging up photos are not permitted. Of course, this is very situational-based. If you are a small family, it may be beneficial to consider an apartment that includes utilities and allows some customization. On the other hand, if you are someone that is moving from abroad, an all-inclusive, fully furnished apartment may be best. It’s always suggested to consider your own situation, wants, needs, and budget when weighing out the three.

What is Ottawa parking like for renters?

Car? Or no car? This is by far one of the most important things to consider when moving to Ottawa and deciding where you want to live. The parking situation in Ottawa can be tricky and costly. The current annual parking pass in Ottawa runs for about $700.00 + HST. Even worse- this only allows you to park in a certain sector near your place of residence, so finding a parking lot at 5:30 pm when everyone is done work can be a bit of a mission. Ottawa local Gerry says, “Parking in Ottawa was not what I expected, especially in downtown areas like ByWard Market, Sandy Hill, The Glebe, etc. I’m a food distributor so I visit a lot of neighborhoods in my day. The biggest annoyance is that every street’s parking rules are different than the last. Unless you live in the ‘burbs, you need a parking pass…or scrap it altogether and just use transit.” If you live in the downtown core, relying solely on transit is much more feasible. A common suggestion among Ottawa locals is that if you can avoid a car, do it. However, of course, you may need a car for work, convenience, or just overall preference. In that case, it may be beneficial for you to seek an apartment that offers on-site parking or consider less congested areas like Westboro, Old Ottawa South, Old Ottawa East, Vanier, etc. It may run you a bit more per month to take advantage of on-site parking at your building, but for the sake of convenience, it is totally worth it. Ottawa local Kiera says, “I used to spend (not kidding) 15 minutes every night scouring Sandy Hill for a parking spot. It only took me 10 minutes to drive home but my overall ‘commute’ was almost half an hour! When I moved to the apartment that I am in now, I made sure I had a designated parking spot. It costs me about $150 more per year, but I have zero regrets.”

Advice from Ottawa Locals

We asked 7,000 Ottawa locals the following question: “What is one piece of advice that would give to those looking to move to Ottawa?”. Here are some of their responses:

“Do yourself a favor, live downtown.” @never.lost.nora

“Familiarize yourself with local businesses! It’s the best way to get to know the people and the city.” @katiewakem

“I was told I needed a car and now that I’m here, I don’t know if that’s true.” @deskleaners

“The weather is not a dealbreaker.” @jaypieezarmusic

“Know your neighborhoods! Read the info out there so you don’t get left out of the action.” @kristindeannaa

“Everyone has a secret…they are all wearing long johns.” @adgpen

“Follow and connect with Ottawa Instagram accounts- activities, food pages., local vendors/events.” @colleencouto

“Winter fashion isn’t a thing here. The best part about Ottawa is that big coats and bulky boots are always in style. Dress for the weather not for the photos. You won’t be judged EVER walking into a 5-star restaurant with a North Face jacket and big Sorel boots. It’s pretty awesome.” Amanda R.

“I wish I was told to buy an air conditioner.” @neilpdow

“Make a bucket list of the things to do in the city! Orleans and Barrhaven aren’t that far.” @jamisonsty91

“Make sure you buy a coat HERE. Other coats aren’t warm enough!” @a.surette

“Four words: Get an air conditioner.” Saydee B.

“Visit ottawatourism.ca to stay up to date with the latest festivals and events” @snydox

“Some things are oddly expensive here compared to other parts of Ontario. For example, I used to pay $10 for a pound of chicken wings, but in Ottawa, they’re at least $15! Also, tacos are crazy pricy. It sounds odd but those two things always shock me when I go out to eat.” Caleb A.

“Rent is cheaper in Gatineau.” @nouveauloupgarou

“Prepare for hot humid summers and frigid, frozen, dreary winters.” Sabrina S.

Please note: The majority of the content in this article is opinion-based from trusted and regarded Ottawa locals and professionals.