International Students in Toronto: Credit Scores, Guarantors & Furnished Rentals
Guide for international students in Toronto — credit scores, guarantors, realtors, and furnished rentals while you find your long-term neighbourhood.
Landing in Toronto as an international student is exciting until someone asks for your Canadian credit score and you realize your home-country bank history doesn't translate. This guide covers the boring-but-critical stuff: credit, guarantors, realtors, and why a furnished rental across town can be your smartest first move.
A credit score is a number (300–900 in Canada) that shows how reliably you've paid bills and debts. Landlords use it because they can't call your parents in another timezone every time rent is due. New arrivals often have no score — not bad credit, just no file. That pushes you toward guarantors, larger deposits, or furnished providers who understand international students.
A guarantor co-signs your lease — if you don't pay, they pay. Many students use a parent or relative in Canada. Some landlords want a Canadian guarantor specifically. If that's impossible, expect upfront requirements or specialized student housing operators.
In Toronto's rental market, realtors often represent landlords and get paid when you sign. For students, a realtor can help filter scams and coordinate viewings — but start early and bring your documents (passport, study permit, proof of enrollment, bank statements). Never pay cash to someone who won't show the unit.