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How to Rent Out a Room in your House

There are many reasons you would be interested in renting out a room in your house. No matter the reasoning, there are a few steps first you need to take. Through the process of not just preparing your space to rent, but also navigating how to be a great host, here is how to rent out a room in your house.

Preparing A Room for Renters

Setting up the room and space so that it will be comfortable and secure is incredibly important for a host. That can start with ensuring the rented room has a lock, to provide privacy and security for the renter. 

The room itself should include the basics to ensure comfort of living. That includes:

  • Mattress 
  • Bedframe
  • Nightstand
  • Lighting (either overhead or lamp)
  • Dresser or closet for clothes storage
  • Sheets
  • Blankets
  • Pillows
  • Curtains/drapes/blinds for window

Of course, a room can have more than just the basics. Some other optional pieces to make the rented space to feel more comfortable could include:

  • Desk
  • Desk chair
  • Wall art and/or wall hangings
  • Alarm clock

In the case that you will have a shared space with the renter, it is important to be aware of how that will affect everyone involved. Potential shared spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms should have appropriate space for both the host and renter to keep the essentials. It is always a good idea to set aside certain shelves in refrigerators, cupboards or other shared storage areas for the renter specifically. 

It is also important that you take photos of the room before renting it out. Ensure that any marks or scuffs are noted ahead of time. This is for the comfort of both the host and the renter.

How to List a Room for Rent

Once the room is set and you are ready to list it for rent, you will want to create a host account on Happipad. Once you select “I am a Host,” you will simply need to follow the prompts to create your account. 

This process will include everything we need to make sure you are comfortable and you can find the best renter for your room. Once you complete the host qualification and registration, you will be asked some questions regarding your interests, hobbies and lifestyle. These questions are there to help you find the best renter possible for you.

Now that your profile is complete, you can click on the “Create listing” button in the top right corner of the screen OR you can click the button underneath the dashboard. Here, you can select when the room is available, rent price, house rules and everything else a potential renter should know about. 

One of the major keys to getting potential renters interested is good photos. You will need a minimum of five photos of your home to continue on in the process. If possible, take the photos with natural light. Open curtains, blinds and doors to let as much natural light in as possible for the photos. 

Happipad also provides some editing tools once the photo is uploaded, to make sure your house looks perfect for potential renters. The better your photos, the more renters will apply. 

Finally, you simply click “Post Room” and your room will start showing up for people to inquire about! 

And, of course, you can now start seeking renters by clicking the “Guest finder” button.

How Much To Rent a Room For

There is no exact science to knowing how much to rent a room for. However, there are plenty of guidelines and ideas that can help you. 

One of the biggest factors is obviously location. Renting a room in your house in Ontario near Toronto is going to be more expensive than renting a room in a home in Nova Scotia. But it is not just your location in Canada. Here are some other location-based factors to take into consideration:

  • Is your home close to public transportation?
  • Is your home in the heart of the city?
  • Is your home near restaurants and stores?
  • Is your home close to universities? 

A rule of thumb is that a room with a private bathroom in your home should be 25% less than an average studio apartment in your area. And, of course, a room without a private bathroom is less than that. 

Here is a list of average prices of studio apartments across Canada, per Wowa.ca (as of October 2022):

  • Vancouver, British Columbia – $1302
  • Toronto, Ontario – $1217
  • Ottawa, Ontario – $1061
  • Calgary, Alberta – $919
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia – $902
  • Edmonton, Alberta – $879
  • London, Ontario – $780
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba – $786
  • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – $745
  • Newfoundland and Labrador – $742
  • Moncton, New Brunswick – $717
  • Montreal, Quebec – $712
  • Quebec City, Quebec – $640
  • Prince Edward Island – $619

Finding the Right Renter

Finding the right person to rent a room in your home can be made easy with Happipad. Throughout the creation of your profile and room listing, you will be asked questions about yourself that should help you find the perfect match. 

Whether that be having a pet, how you would describe your personality, how often you have friends over, allergies, food preferences or many others, we try to take as much of the guesswork out of finding the right guest as possible.

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