Hi, my family and I are looking to move to Ottawa in the new year so have been looking at renting a property initially. While looking at houses we have noticed that we need to provide references and have a credit check done on our selfs.
Whe are able to provide uk references for renting as we have been renting for a number of years and have always paid our rent on time, the problem we can see is that we have noticed we would have a zero credit score in Canada as we have never had credit there.

Our question is how will this affect us or are we able to pay a years rent upfront?

Any help with this be most appreciated.

I don't have any experience with this but perhaps obtain your experian and equifax credit reports from the UK for £2 each and obtain evidence of employment and savings. I expect that would do.

Plenty of people come over in this position. The landlord wants to see enough evidence to give him a good feeling that you will pay the rent on time and not trash his place. References are great, also, UK credit reports will help, and perhaps show him your bank statement with a good balance. The Residential Tenancies Act of Ontario prohibits landlords from taking more than first and last months rent in advance, doesn't mean they don't do it, but they shouldn't and once moved in a tenant can demand his overpayment back, so it's not smart for landlords to rely on getting the money upfront rather than checking the tenant's reliability. It's common sense, all he wants to know is that you have the money to pay, are reliable and trustworthy, get him whatever he needs to be comfortable. If one landlord says no, move on to the next one.

For every landlord wanting a credit check there is one that won't. You will find something, and if after an explanation a landlord isn't interested, just move onto the next person.

Its a little difference in BC, I've yet to have a landlord do a credit check, but they do seem more popular back east.