Where do you want to live?

You may want to live in a particular area of the city because it is close to your work or school, or because you currently live in that area. You may also want to be far away from a particular area because an abusive ex-partner lives there or you have health concerns.

Rents vary depending on the area of the city. Rents are generally less expensive in the north end, downtown and east end areas of Hamilton. There are also more houses and apartments available to rent in these areas of the city.

Apartments and houses in the west end, Dundas and on the east mountain tend to be more expensive. The most expensive areas of the city are the west mountain and Ancaster. If you have a car, there are areas to the east and west of Hamilton you might also consider.

What type of housing do you want?

In this Guide we talk about rental units. A unit is a living space that you pay to occupy. Most rental units are self-contained, which means that they are not shared with other tenants and have a private entrance. Some units, however are shared.

Apartments usually have less space than townhouses, semi-detached units or houses. They do not have private outdoor space. Because of this, the rents for apartments are usually less than for townhouses, semi-detached units and houses.

Last Revised Wednesday August 11, 2004