Newcomer setup
Move from arrival tasks to banking, credit, housing, phone service, taxes, and a workable first-month plan.
First Apartment Checklist
A first apartment is much easier when lease details, deposits, utilities, move-in inspection, furniture, kitchen basics, cleaning supplies, tenant insurance, and address updates are handled before small tasks pile up. This Canadian checklist is built for students, newcomers, and first-time renters who want a practical move-in plan rather than a shopping list.
What this template is for
A draft built around the details you need
Use this for student rentals, first apartments, newcomer housing, or any move into a new rental.
Rental rules, deposits, inspections, and utilities vary by province, city, building, and lease.
How to use it
- Check off tasks before signing and before moving day.
- Add custom items for your building or province.
- Print the checklist and keep it with your lease documents.
What is on the checklist
Every item in the first apartment checklist, shown in full. Tick the ones that apply in the tool below.
Before signing
- Review rent, term, deposit, and which utilities are included
- Confirm move-in date and key pickup
- Ask whether tenant insurance is required by the lease
- Confirm laundry, parking, storage, pets, and guest rules
- Check that any deposit asked for is legal in your province
Moving day
- Book movers or a vehicle
- Complete the move-in condition inspection (/templates/move-in-move-out-inspection) with the landlord present
- Photograph every room before you unpack
- Set up mail forwarding and address updates
- Record meter readings if utilities are in your name
Utilities and setup
- Internet
- Electricity or hydro if billed separately
- Phone plan and address update
- Tenant insurance
- Building app, buzzer, fob, or mailbox setup
Essentials
- Mattress and bedding
- Basic kitchen items
- Cleaning supplies
- Test the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Basic toolkit
- Toilet paper, towels, hangers, and garbage bags
Renter admin
- Ask for a rent receipt (/templates/rent-receipt-template) for every payment
- Save the lease and inspection report in your document organizer (/templates/document-organizer)
- Note your province's rent increase and notice rules
Make your own
Fill in your details, then download a PDF or an editable Word file.
Common questions
What should I check before signing a lease?
Rent, term, deposits, which utilities are included, the rules on guests and pets, the condition of the unit, and who to contact for repairs. Confirm any deposit requested is actually permitted in your province — some common requests are not.
Do I need tenant insurance?
Many Canadian leases require it, and it is inexpensive relative to what it covers. Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings, and the liability coverage matters more than most renters realize.
Why take photos on move-in day?
Because the deposit dispute happens a year later, when nobody remembers whether the scuff was already there. Photograph every room before unpacking and keep the files with your inspection report.
How this template is maintained
- Last reviewed
- Reviewed by
- Thomas TremblayFounder and editor, Canooq
See also
Practical pathways
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