Moving to Toronto
 

Hi Everyone,

Just joined the forum as myself and my Fiancee will be moving to Toronto in October-November time, as I have been offered a job there and was hoping I may be able to ask for a little advice on things from people n the know?

The company I work for is sponsoring the visa process for us both and I am going to be based, initially in High Park. I have been told this in a decent area to live too, but I was hoping someone maybe be able to give me rough ideas on rental prices around that area for a 1/2 bedroom apartment or recommend other decent areas close by?

We won't have a car initially so will be using public transport. How is the general standard of the public transport in Toronto?

When we arrive we will need to set up bank accounts etc, is this easy enough to do? Will our credit rating start from zero in Canada?

We are both from the UK but currently live in Spain(Barcelona) so going to Canada will be a big change of scene but we are excited and looking forward to it.

Thanks for any help in advance and I hope to be able to help others where possible.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Yes your credit rating will start again but will build up very quickly.

Here is a website for rent: www.realtor.ca also check out Apartment Toronto: Find your next Toronto apartment, rent quickly with pictures.

You'd expect to pay $1500 to $2500 depending on size.

Public transport in Toronto is kind of not particularly great but it is functional.

At least by High Park you are on the subway system. That is however a little limited although fine for getting into the Downtown core. You'll figure out the streetcar and it's nuances soon enough. At first there will be a novelty value but it won't last long.

If you don't use Uber you soon will.

High Park is a nice neighbourhood.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks a lot, James. Really appreciate your reply.

I will be working in High Park initially but with my job I will be travelling around the City to a few different locations. I will get a car before spring just need to get there and settled first.

I'm not too bothered about building credit up quickly, just as long as we can get an apartment and open a bank account, the other things are not so much of a worry.

How long have you lived in Toronto? Do you like it?

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

My wife and I lived at Yonge/Eglinton for 5 years without a car. Easy walk to shops, restaurants, bars, subway station etc. Subway train goes straight downtown - although it's a lot more crowded in rush hour now than it was when we lived there (but the same goes for everywhere else as well).

We also lived at High Park for a few months near the end of our time in Canada. Nice area and also on a subway line (assuming you're at the north end of the park near Bloor) although you would need to change trains to get downtown.

Toronto definitely does not have the transit system that you would expect from a city of its size. It really should have a much bigger subway system but there are also buses, streetcars, and overground commuter trains (GO).

It was fairly easy for us to open bank accounts. Credit history will basically start from zero. If you have credit cards, contact your credit card companies to see if they can help get you started with a Canadian credit card.

You might find these links useful:

Toronto Neighbourhoods

High Park | Apartments & Condos for Sale or Rent in Toronto (GTA) | Kijiji Classifieds

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks a lot for your reply and for posting some links for us to look at.

On a personal level, if we lived in High Park and I only had to go to the office, I'd be fine without a car, but as I'll have multiple sites, a car will be inevitable. We don't have any credit cards here in Spain so that won't be an issue; opening bank accounts here wasn't much fun though, hence the question here.

Thanks again.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

High Park is very nice indeed (although not cheap). If you cross to the east side of Roncevalles prices are cheaper (or were when I lived first just off Parkside and later east of Roncy on Wright Ave.

Just make sure you have a short walk to transit... even 500 m can be brutal on a cold windy day in winter.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Depending on how often you have to travel to the other sites, you may find car share programs or rentals preferable to actually purchasing a vehicle. Your firm may also have 'pool' cars that can be used. Since you will be new to Canada (and therefore no Canadian driving history), your insurance rates on a new vehicle will be borderline ridiculous (and in Canada, insurance is mandatory when registering the vehicle)

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Good idea. And on that note, check out Zip Car : Car Sharing, an alternative to car rental and car ownership – Zipcar

Public transit in Toronto is inadequate but improving at a glacial pace. A subway up to York University will open in 2017, but after that the next major completion of a transit project will be the Eglinton Crosstown (a east-west light-rail through the middle of the city) in 2021.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

A mere two years late for the Pan-American games in 2015, which was the main motivator for getting the project off (or rather under) the ground in the first place.

Oh, Canada. Oh, Toronto, to paraphrase dear old Mordecai Richler.

Oi wey, as he might have better expressed it.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks to everyone for the replies.

I will need to travel to different sites everyday after an initial period. Only one alternative site per day, but it will be everyday.

I don't have a firm, I am a football/Soccer coach, so there are no firm cars unfortunately.

I will be new to driving and Canada and I will do my driving test in Toronto so I will look into insurance in the first instance but also schemes like Zipcar.

I am going to have more of a look at apartments in High Park and the surrounding areas this weekend. That would be the preferred location initially as it's close to the office but once we know Toronto more and have got a car etc, I am open to moving to a different area where we may get more for our money.

Not sure if anyone has used this Tax Calculator before, but was wondering if it's reliable?

2016 Personal tax calculator - EY - Canada - EY - Canada

Thanks again for all the help.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

I think that's the same one that's recommended in our Wiki article about income tax in Canada, so yes, it's been used before and is known to be fairly accurate. If you want to double check to see if your salary will be enough, then Toronto peeps will be happy to help if you can give an idea of the salary range and any other pertinent info (is it just you and your partner, does s/he plan to work, etc).

Have you got your LMIA already?

HTH.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks for your reply.

Glad that the tax calculator is a reliable one.

No i don't have the LMIA yet, I have just sent the paperwork over yesterday so the company's immigration lawyer is dealing with it all now.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Fingers crossed it's positive and doesn't take too long. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks a lot.

I'm not anticipating an issues as I know a couple for people who have gone across with similar or less experience for similar jobs and the process only took around 10 days.

That being said, my fingers are still crossed!!

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Interesting. I have soccer coaching licences (highest being NSCAA Premier) and have coached on and off over the past 15 years or so while holding down a full-time job. I have played with the idea of coaching full-time once all the kids have finished college. Is Toronto a place where you can make a good living as a soccer coach? I played amateur indoor and outdoor soccer when I lived in Toronto but I only really got into coaching when my kids started playing in the US. Unless you're a full-time Director of Coaching or Technical Director (some jobs involve both roles), I would imagine that you would have to take on 2-3 teams yourself and also get involved in training sessions for others. I'm assuming there must be a large number of indoor facilities to keep you active over the long winter months.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

I would strongly recommend that, when looking into auto insurance, that you use an insurance broker, rather than working directly with a particular insurance company (Desjardins, Dominion, Geico etc.) Because of your particular situation, your rates will change rapidly over a relatively short period of time, and a broker will be able to compare rates from many different companies to find you the best option.

Also, using a broker will also allow you to ask questions about situations, process etc., that you shouldn't ask your insurance provider directly. There are some insurance providers, but not all, that will actually raise your rates because you asked questions about coverage, or asked them a question that they could imply indicated you had an incident, which increases your risk - even if you never had or claimed for an incident

An example would be asking "Theoretically, If I have a $1000 deductible, and had an incident that caused $2000 damage, would it be better to simply pay the $2000 out of pocket, or submit a claim for the $1000 over my deductible?" The insurance provider may simply recommend that you make the claim, while a broker will be able to go through the longer-term consequences for making the claim which may illustrate that it's better to simply pay out of pocket.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Well as you know, Toronto city council is notoriously dysfunctional.

Also, it has been poorly served by its mayors : first the erratic Lastman, followed by the union bootlicking marxist Miller, and then, of course, the Ford debacle. Pre-amalgamation, the old city of Toronto was led for many years by the ineffectual Barbara Hall.

In John Tory I think Torontonians finally have a good, competent mayor. I don't agree with all his decisions, but things do seem to be finally moving forward under his leadership.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

If there is an insurance company that has the degree of premium sensitivity suggested I haven't come across it. Ships are rated by people but cars are just rated by computer; live in Toronto +100%, new to country +50%, drive to work +20%, yadda, yadda. Prices vary between companies but the companies have strict formulas and generally no mechanism to translate doubt about an individual into premium variation.


I liked Mel Lastman as mayor, btw, he was hugely entertaining. Mayor is a largely ceremonial position so we may as well have a buffoon. I can't think of any mayor of Toronto without thinking of a cooking pot.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Good to know there is another coach on the forum:thumbup:

Coming from Europe, pretty much all of N America is a good place to make a living as a coach. Of course, the minimum required to live in places like LA/NYC or other big cities are different but a lot of coaches in the UK/Europe want to get to N America as there are FT jobs in coaching and the money is better than the UK. I've been fortunate enough to work for professional clubs in England and Spain but the FT job offers are barely minimum wage by UK standards.

I will be a DOC and set up a coach education program at the club so FT with one club.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

"Many" being precisely 3 years (94-97). Her predecessor was June Rowland (also 3 years in office) who followed Art Eggleton (1980-91).

I'm not going to bother addressing your characterisation of David Miller.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

I don't know if he had policies but he was wonderfully rumpled, he looked like one of the cast of Last of the Summer Wine.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Or Steptoe & Son.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Lastman was a showman but he did keep the finances reasonably in order if I recall correctly. He managed to get a subway built - okay, it was a "stubway" and Sheppard should not have been the TTC's development priority, but the street is the major thoroughfare of north Toronto and I personally don't consider any subway construction wasted money.

Compared to the two disasters that followed him I'd say Lastman looks pretty good. Generally speaking though, I think John Tory is a cut above all of them.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Blondie is better off forgotten anyway.

Noted re: my error about Barbara Hall. I thought she had been mayor for longer than that.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

You're probably mixing her up with Hazel.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Haha, no, not in the slightest. I'm well aware who Hazel McCallion is.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks again to everyone for the replies.

Another thing I wanted to ask is, We will be arriving in Toronto anytime between 3rd week of Oct to 2nd week of November depending on visa/flights/dog transports etc, What will the weather actually be like at that time of year in Toronto?

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

There are a few sites on the web where you can view historical weather data for particular dates, I've linked to a site that lists the weather for November of last year, but the time of year that you're arriving can be quite variable

https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/...h=11&year=2015

In general, I would expect highs around 10-15C, with overnight lows in single digits. There may be a few nights where it will dip below freezing, and there's a chance of a light snowfall or two. Because the ground (hopefully) isn't frozen yet, the snow won't stick around

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

I've been here full time almost 7 years. Arrived when I was 30.

It's safe and friendly and in my opinion the nightlife has dramatically improved during that time.

People aren't as streetwise or switched on as back home and beer costs more.

It's not the best place for my profession but the golf courses and snowboarding proximity help me enjoy life. My neighbourhood also has a solid core of locals which is something I never found in London.

I was considering going home but Brexit scuppered that in the short term.

Around High Park there is some nice pubs/brunch spots and the park itself is pretty cool.

Once you figure out how to get round and make a few friends you'll be fine.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Similar to in the UK.

It's a good time to go and get yourself a decent winter coat, a tuque (wool hat) and some gloves.

You never want to be caught with out those once January hits through to about Mid-April most years.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

I know you are a new driver but do your test in the UK before you come over, the driving test over here isn't any easier or anything but much more time consuming!

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

[Pedantmode] Touque, originally a French word meaning brimless hat. [/Pedantmode]

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Just another thing to blame the French for :lol:

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

They were too late approving the various stages of the project- the pan am games target was missed in the oughties.

However there was some political jiggery-pokery, as although construction was due to be completed a month or two after the games what wasn't voiced was the TTC needs a whole year with completed stations & tracks to get all the signalling and operational/ safety stuff ready.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks to everyone for the replies, it's very much appreciated!

I am in Spain at the moment so that's why I am not doing my test here. Not only do I not really have time but it's very expensive to do it here.

I have another question, if that's OK?

What is the normal process with renting in Toronto, especially as a newcomer to the city?

What is the usual deposit amount and is it reliable to use sites with private landlords or is it best to go with a company initially?

Any guidance wold be great.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

If you are new to driving (i.e. haven't held a full license for 2 years prior to coming to Canada) then please be aware that you will be subject to the graduated licensing scheme - meaning it will take you a minimum of 1 year before you can drive alone and on major highways.

Drivers’ Licences – Cars
If you've held a license before, you may be able to get credit for time held if under 2 years - or a full exchange if more than.

Exchanges & Foreign Licences

Congrats on getting the job!

:)

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

Thanks for the reply Siouxie!

I didn't know that about the driving licences and it seems a bit strange to me, but if that's how it's done in Canada, then that how it's done.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

So to help you. Condo's are privately owned and then let out. Apartments are all rented properties in a building by a business. This will help you understand the difference between a condo and an apartment.

Typically most places here are unfurnished.

You pay first and last month for rent. The good news is there is no deposit to be screwed on at the end of your tenancy. I normally give them 6 weeks to two months notice when I'm moving out so they know not to expect a rent check.

A lease is typically 12 months. With no credit rating you may have to negotiate and pay a few months in advance so be warned.

Best way to find a property (condo) is to get a realtor. Tell them what you want. Have them line up a few places and then pick one.

The realtors fee is met by the landlord.

You could go the private route but you'll restrict what is available to yourself from the overall market. It is only beneficial to Landlord's trying to skimp on fees.

The other option as a newby is Apartment buildings that are all rentals. You just call the building and see what is available. Some keep their websites up to date. In my experience they are a little shabbier or over priced. They will not negotiate. The good news here is you do not have to commit to a term and this may be useful whilst building a credit rating.

Last thing. ALWAYS NEGOTIATE/ LOW BALL if looking at condo's or privately owned residence. I've never paid asking on rent. My first place (shared) was $2500 per month and we got it for $2200. The second was $1650 per month and I got it for $1500.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

My experience has been that, with apartment rentals, the property management company will often insist that you initially sign a 12 month fixed term lease, after which you can live 'month to month' indefinitely. Every 12 months, the company will send you a notification about changes to your rent, which you have to return to the company. Read these documents carefully, because they also spell out the period of notice that you have to provide before moving etc.

I stayed in one apartment building where, if you wanted to remain in the building on a month to month basis, you returned the form to the office unsigned. If you signed the document, then you were committing to another fixed 12 month term, and if you left before then, you were subject to a fee for breaking the lease - which is why it's important to read the details :)

As James said, typically you're only responsible for first and last month's rent. Not sure if it's still happening, but some buildings will also request a damage deposit (usually less than one month's rent) that will be returned to you when you leave and after an inspection was done to make sure there was no damage done to walls etc.

Before you move in, I would recommend taking a thorough walk-through of the apartment (if the landlord accompanies you, even better). Take pictures of any cracks in the ceiling plaster, water spots, cracked wall or floor tiles, discolourations of the carpet etc. Email a copy of those pictures to the landlord, and keep a copy of that sent email. In case there's a dispute about damages when you move out, then you have photographic evidence, in the case that the damage was pre-existing, that you were not the culprit.

Also, if you're renting in Spain, might be an idea to get a letter of reference (assuming your current landlord likes you) and contact information. While it won't be a substitute for an excellent established credit rating, it may give some landlords a bit more reassurance about renting to you.

Re: Moving to Toronto
 

FYI, damage deposits are illegal in Toronto - landlords are not allowed to demand or collect damage deposits on rental units, nor can they use the last month's rent towards any damage to the unit.